The idea of preparing an updated or revised recording that illustrates the symbols or categories of the IPA was first proposed by Ladefoged and Roach (1986). These authors noted (ibid.: 28) that ‘Thanks to John Wells and Susan Ramsaran we already have a cassette recording illustrating the symbols in the current chart.’ Of the many phoneticians who responded to the announcement of the meeting in Kiel, about 25 expressed interest in planning recorded illustrations of the revised alphabet. Acting as coordinator for this activity, I sent out a tentative plan for the illustrations as a starting point for discussion.