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From:  Mezzoid@a...
Date:  Sun Apr 9, 2000  2:14 am
Subject:  Re: [vocalist-temporary] Bel Canto technique...


In a message dated 04/08/2000 8:02:40 PM Central Daylight Time,
caioross@z... writes:

<< That is: [j] and [y] are phonetic symbols for the same sound, but in
different systems ( IPA and EPD-14 and some others ). If Alan didn't mean the
symbol, but the letter, so he shouldn't have written: ' I cannot find any
reason why a [y] (French "u" or German "ü") ...' He put it in brackets,
though I have to confess I think phonetic symbols are written between slashes
only. >>

No, I'm sorry, but [y] and [j] are not phonetic symbols for the same sound in
IPA, which is the most commonly used system for singers. Please refer to the
International Phonetic Alphabet website,
www.arts.gla.ac.uk/IPA/fullchart.html. On this site [y] is clearly defined
as a vowel, [j] is defined under consonants as a palatal approximate (which I
guess means a glide).

[j] defines the sound of the letter "y" as in "young" or the letter "j" in
the German word "jung." Both glides, [w] and [j] are really combinations of
vowel sounds [u] and [i] plus their subsequent letter but are not
phoneticized that way.

Christine Thomas
Mezzo-Soprano
Wauwatosa, WI

"I love to sing-a, about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a"


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314 Re: Bel Canto technique... Alain Zürcher   Sun  4/9/2000   3 KB

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