The Language Sounds That Could Exist, But Don’t

The International Phonetic Alphabet: one sound for each symbol, and one symbol for each sound. Except for the sounds we can’t make. Pull down the description for the references! MORE LANGUAGE FILES: Written with Gretchen McCulloch and Molly Ruhl. Gretchen’s new book, BECAUSE INTERNET, is available now: 🇺🇸 US: 🇨🇦 CA: 🇬🇧 UK: (Those are affiliate links that give a commission to me or Gretchen, depending on country!) Gretchen can be found at REFERENCES: Harbeck, J. (2009). Presented at the 30th annual Editors’ Association of Canada conference, Toronto, June 6, 2009. Algeo, J., & Pyles, T. (2004). The origins and development of the English language (5th ed.). Boston, Mass.: Thomson/Wadsworth. Nicolaidis, Katerina (2005). “Approval of new IPA sound: the labiodental flap“. Journal of the International Phonetic Association. 35 (2): 261. 🟥 MORE FROM TOM: (you can find contact details and social links there too) 📰 WEEKLY NEWSLETTER with good stuff from the rest of the internet: ❓ LATERAL, free weekly podcast: ➕ TOM SCOTT PLUS: 👥 THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: