The Comparative Phonetics of Russian and the Other Slavic Languages: Toward a Standard IPA Transcription

The literature on Slavic phonetics reveals a controversy about certain vowels and consonants. Dictionaries typically do not give phonetics, or if they do, it is not standard IPA. This creates problems for both researchers and teachers. These difficulties are met here by the attempt to give more careful description of articulations, and provide a better descriptive analysis than is presently available. A system is presented for the consistent and precise location of vowels. In addition, a standard articulation chart and standard descriptions are provided. This extended IPA system is used as the basis of phonetic descriptions, analysis and comparison. Emphasis is on the specific case or paradigm method of the philosophy of science so that numerous examples must of necessity be given. This contrasts with the usual article on phonology, which provides the fewest number or examples required to support a general or universal hypothesis. The examples here provide data for phonology, further research, comparative and contrastive phonetics, as well as to aid the language teacher and learner.