Phonetizations

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The process of converting spoken language sounds into written symbols or representations
2. The method by which the pronunciation of words is transcribed into phonetic symbols
3. A system that captures the audible characteristics of speech for analysis or communication purposes

Etymology: "Phonetizations" is simply the plural of "phonetization," which is "phonetize" plus the noun-forming suffix "-ation." The verb "phonetize" was formed in English from "phonetic," the adjective for speech sounds, which comes from Greek "phōnētikos," from "phōnē," meaning "voice" or "sound." The verb itself is a modern formation, dating from the 19th century, when linguists and teachers needed a way to describe rendering pronunciation in symbols. The plural reflects that "phonetization" can name many distinct acts or systems of converting speech to writing, such as the transcriptions produced by different alphabets or spelling reforms. Its meaning depends on "phonetic," so the word inherits the Greek idea of sound directly, while the "-ize" and "-ation" endings are English additions that turn the adjective into an action noun.