Explanation

The IPA transcriber is a tool that enables you to convert text written in the International Phonetic Alphabet into Musa. With a little hinting, it can also understand X-SAMPA or Kirshenbaum notation; you can even mix all four scripts. You still have to check the output, but it's a good start.

Some Kirshenbaum symbols are the same as IPA or X-SAMPA symbols for different sounds. To avoid ambiguity, use the following tricks:

• Kirshenbaum uses r for the approximant: use r\ instead, leaving r for the trill.
• Kirshenbaum uses a period . for rounding and retroflex, but that interferes with punctuation, so use a degree ° instead.
• X-SAMPA uses a double quote " for primary stress; use an apostrophe ' instead.
• X-SAMPA uses a backquote ` for retroflex sounds; use a degree symbol ° instead.
• X-SAMPA uses an ampersand & for the IPA ɶ sound; use a° instead.
• Ten capital letters G H J L M P Q R W Y represent different sounds in Kirshenbaum; put a hash # before them if you want the Kirshenbaum reading. In fact, you can put the hash before any Kirshenbaum capital letter, so you don't need to remember that little list.

This same transcriber can also generate IPA, X-SAMPA, or Kirshenbaum, with some oddities. For example, it will put the stress mark before the vowel, not the syllable. If you try a round trip, for example from IPA to IPA, the output won't match the input exactly, because it's passing through Musa. But it will be close, and useable.