The IPA 1989 Kiel Convention Workgroup 9 report: Computer Coding of IPA Symbols and Computer Representation of Individual Languages

Abstract

The Association must define and communicate its officially accepted symbols to other organizations and professionals, including publishers, dictionary makers, computer-systems specialists, and programmers. Accordingly, it was decided that each accepted symbol or diacritic should be assigned a unique numerical equivalent, independent of computer-coding conventions, and a unique name which provides a mnemonic description of the character shape. Symbols that have been used in earlier versions of the IPA, but deleted in later revisions, should retain a number, and name, for reference purposes. The numerical equivalent (IPA Number) is to be regarded as a communication-interchange standard, to serve as a basis for creating computer-code translation tables from various phonetic-character-set software to the common IPA Number. This IPA Number is not implemented directly in computer format (for example, ASCII), but is expressed as a simple numerical directory of digit triples to serve as a unique reference. The IPA Number can also serve as a typesetter's guide to the Phonetic Symbol Chart. The systematic numerical listing represents the IPA symbols as presented in the Chart. Therefore, the first digit of the triple indicates the symbol category; inn for accepted IPA consonant symbols, 2nn for former IPA consonant symbols and non-IPA consonant symbols, 3nn for vowels, 4nn for segmental diacritics, 5nn for suprasegmental symbols; 6nn-8nn are reserved for future specification (e.g., for symbols for voice quality settings or for pathological speech). The digit triple 9nn has the function of an escape sequence from IPA-symbol mode into procedures definable for special applications (e.g., Roman, Greek, Cyrillic orthographies, “Comment” mode, etc.).