Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA)
An international organization whose mission is to advance the art, research, and visibility of the voice and speech profession. (Plus, members get discounts on KTS workshops!)
Fitzmaurice Voicework
Fitzmaurice Voicework® is a comprehensive, holistic approach to voice training. Originally developed for actors, it is now also used to help people with a wide variety of interests and needs. Knight-Thompson Speechwork and Fitzmaurice Voicework share similar philosophies and approaches to actor training. Though the two bodies of work are entirely separate and non-overlapping, these similarities of approach mean that KTS and FV are extremely compatible. Increasingly, MFA and other actor-training programs include instruction in both bodies.
International Phonetic Association
The keepers of the sacred flame.
The IPA is the major as well as the oldest representative organization for phoneticians. It was established in 1886 in Paris. 2011 marked the 125th anniversary of the founding of the IPA, and 2013 marked the 125th anniversary of the first publication of the International Phonetic Alphabet and the formulation of the principles.
The aim of the IPA is to promote the scientific study of phonetics and the various practical applications of that science.
In furtherance of this aim, the IPA provides the academic community world-wide with a notational standard for the phonetic representation of all languages – the International Phonetic Alphabet (also IPA).
The latest version of the IPA Alphabet was published in 2005.
American Dialect Society
The American Dialect Society, founded in 1889, is dedicated to the study of the English language in North America, and of other languages, or dialects of other languages, influencing it or influenced by it.
SIL
SIL hosts the IPA fonts Charis SIL, Doulos SIL, and Gentium, all of which are available for download free of charge. Founded in 1934, SIL (originally known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc.) has grown from a small summer linguistics training program with two students to a staff of over 4,400 coming from over 86 countries. SIL’s linguistic investigation exceeds 2,167 languages in over 100 countries. The organization makes its services available to all, without regard to religious belief, political ideology, gender, race or ethnolinguistic background.