ðə pɹˈaɪmɚɹi fˈʌŋkʃən ʌvðə ɹˈaʊd fˈoʊk sˈɔŋ ˈɪndɛks ɪz æz ɐ ɹᵻsˈɜːtʃ ˈeɪd kˈɔɹɪlˌeɪɾɪŋ vˈɜːʒənz ʌv tɹɐdˈɪʃənəl ˈɪŋɡlɪʃlˈæŋɡwɪdʒ fˈoʊk sˈɔŋ lˈɪɹɪks ˌɪndᵻpˈɛndəntli dˈɑːkjuːməntᵻd ˌoʊvɚ pˈæst sˈɛntʃɚɹiz baɪ mˈɛni dˈɪfɹənt kəlˈɛktɚz əkɹˌɑːs ɪspˈɛʃəli ðə jˌuːkˈeɪ ænd nˈɔːɹθ ɐmˈɛɹɪkə.
The primary function of the Roud Folk Song Index is as a research aid correlating versions of traditional English-language folk song lyrics independently documented over past centuries by many different collectors across (especially) the UK and North America.