Your essay should reflect on how IPA is used by linguists to record speech differences (such as accents or changes in languages across time) vs how SLPs use the IPA to determine speech disorders. For full credit, students must also describe why it is critical for clinicians to consider whether a clients speech represents a speech disorder or speech difference, and what the clinicians role is (if any) when a client presents with a speech difference and not a speech disorder.
Definition: International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
The acronym IPA can refer either to the International Phonetic Association or to the International Phonetic Alphabet. The International Phonetic Alphabet is the association’s alphabet, published periodically in chart form, usually referred to as the chart of the IPA.
Definition: Speech-language pathologists (SLP):
Sometimes called speech therapists, assess and treat people who have speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. They also treat clients who have problems swallowing.
