text_original: Merchants in those days went themselves to look after the sale of their goods, and were often obliged to spend long periods in other countries, where they might be at a considerable disadvantage compared with the native inhabitants.
text_transcription: MERCHANTS IN THOSE DAYS WENT THEMSELVES TO LOOK AFTER THE SALE OF THEIR GOODS AND WERE OFTEN OBLIGED TO SPEND LONG PERIODS IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE THEY MIGHT BE AT A CONSIDERABLE DISADVANTAGE COMPARED WITH THE NATIVE INHABITANTS
phonemes: mˈɜːtʃənts ɪn ðoʊz dˈeɪz wɛnt ðɛmsˈɛlvz tə lˈʊk ˈæftɚ ðə sˈeɪl ʌv ðɛɹ ɡˈʊdz, ænd wɜːɹ ˈɔfən əblˈaɪdʒd tə spˈɛnd lˈɔŋ pˈiəɹɪədz ɪn ˈʌðɚ kˈʌntɹiz, wˌɛɹ ðeɪ mˌaɪt biː æɾə kənsˈɪdɚɹəbəl dˌɪsɐdvˈæntɪdʒ kəmpˈɛɹd wɪððə nˈeɪɾɪv ɪnhˈæbɪtənts.