Phonetics, as taught by Roach et al, still employs symbols for
English RP that are at some variance with the sounds used
contemporarily when set against the standard IPA vowel chart. It
makes no sense to me that, for example, ʌ is used for the STRUT
vowel when on the IPA chart the cardinal usage of this symbol is
far further back and nearer in pronunciation to American
(perhaps South-Western?). I think you previously agreed with me
that the vowel that the contemporary RP user employs is far more
like ɐ. Why then does Roach place ʌ in his chart more or less
where one would find ɐ on the standard chart? I can’t use
phonetics with my acting students and explain that ɔ is a
rounded open-mid back vowel and show them on the standard IPA
chart where the cardinal exists, and then explain that its
unrounded equivalent is actually articulated as a near-open
central vowel. The problem exists because I want to use
contemporary RP as a fundamental phonetic benchmark from which
to use phonetics to transcribe other accents,