Map labeling with the International Phonetic Alphabet: the example of the Middle East

The main aim of the study presented in this paper was to apply a new method to the creation of map typography. We focused on the original pronunciations of geographical names (endonyms), which is viewed as one of the important attributes of geographical objects. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), which was devised by the International Phonetic Association as a standardized way of representing the sounds of spoken language, was used to capture pronunciation. The advantages and disadvantages of using pronunciation in maps were analyzed and compared with other approaches to writing names. The maps created as part of the study demonstrated the practical limitations of using the IPA in cartography. For the using of the IPA for map typography, the Middle East region was chosen because of the large number of different languages (using different scripts) spoken in it. A map was created whose features are described by means of transcriptions of the pronunciation of geographical names in the original language. The main map also incorporates a second map, which describes the same geographical features in English, written using the IPA. It proved to be possible to use pronunciation written in IPA characters for map descriptions, though certain limitations apply. This method may be used in cartography as a supplement to other ways of writing names.