In any language we can identify a small number of regularly used sounds (vowels and consonants) that we call phonemes. We often use special symbols to represent speech sounds (transcription). Here is the International Phonetic Alphabet which is used to represent the sounds.
Consonants:
| /p/ | /k/ | /s/ | /T/ | /h/ | /l/ |
| /b/ | /g/ | /z/ | /D/ | /m/ | /w/ |
| /t/ | /f/ | /S/ | /C/ | /n/ | /j/ |
| /d/ | /v/ | /Z/ | /G/ | /N/ | /r/ |
Vowels:
| /J/ | /V/ | /A/ | /eI/ | /qV/ |
| /I/ | /H/ | /R/ | /aI/ | /Iq/ |
| /e/ | /P/ | /E:/ | /OI/ | /eq/ |
| /x/ | /L/ | /q/ | /aV/ | /Vq/ |
This way of writing or transcribing makes it possible to show that some words, which are spelt in the same way, sound different (e.g. read [rJd] [red]), or that some words, which are spelt differently, sound the same (e.g. rain, rein, reign [reIn]).