The Phonetic Journal

The journal was initially in 12 small pages plus a 4-page advertising and information wrapper per issue.

The vowels a, e, i, o, u were used for their short sound as in pat, pet, pit, pot and put and all the other letters having their usual signification".

A proposed order of the alphabet was as follows: Consonants: p, b; t, d; ç, j; k, g; f, v; [th], [dh], s, z; ʃ, ʒ; m, n, ŋ; l, r; w, y; h. Vowels: a, ɐ; e, ɛ; i, [ee]; o, [o]; γ, σ; u, ɥ. Diphthongs: ei (as in by), iu (as in new), ou (as in now), ai (as in ay), oi (as in ay).

Pitman and Alexander John Ellis, an English mathematician and philologist jointly proposed in 1845 an English Phonotypic Alphabet made up of 40 letters based mainly on the Phonetic Alphabet of The Phonetic Journal and that of The Phonotypic Journal.

and from other periodicals, recommending an enlarged alphabet and "A Reformed Spelling of the English Language" as a "means of placing the arts of Reading and Writing within the reach of all who speak the English language or wish acquire it", as Pitman said in the intro.