International Phonetic Association (IPA)

The International Phonetic Association (IPA) is an organization that created a system called the International Phonetic Alphabet. This alphabet represents every sound in human speech, allowing people to accurately describe how words are pronounced in any language. For instance, the same letter can have different sounds in different languages, and the IPA provides unique symbols for each sound. Linguists, language teachers, and speech therapists use the IPA to study pronunciation, teach languages, and assist with speech issues. It serves as a universal tool for understanding the nuances of spoken language across cultures.