Synopses & Reviews
This series provides approachable, yet authoritative, introductions to major topics in linguistics. Ideal for students with little or no prior knowledge of linguistics each book carefully explains the basics, emphasizing understanding of the essential notions rather than arguing for a particular theoretical position.
Assuming little or no background knowledge and using original examples and exercises, Understanding Phonetics provides an introduction to the basics and presents a comprehensive survey of phonetic theory. Using examples from a wide range of languages, the book includes an audio CD in order to provide students with ear training and authentic listening material.
Review
"This volume is an excellent introduction into the field of phonetics. It presents an impressive account of the articulatory, acoustic and perceptual aspects of human speech sounds. What makes this book especially useful are the various exercises in the chapters, and the addition of online audio materials to let readers develop their practical skills with ear-training exercises."--Marc Swerts, Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Synopsis
Assuming little or no background knowledge and using original examples and exercises (with answers supplied),
Understanding Phonetics provides with an accessible introduction to the basics of phonetics and a comprehensive analysis of traditional phonetic theory--the articulation and physical characteristics of speech sounds.
Examples from a wide range of languages are presented throughout using symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet. To help develop skills in this alphabet, Understanding Phonetics includes ear-training exercises that are freely available online, along with audio files of authentic listening material, at www.hodderplus.com/linguistics.
About the Author
Patricia Ashby is Principal Lecturer in Phonetics, University of Westminster. She is the author of
Speech Sounds.
Table of Contents
1. Preliminaries --Starting Phonetics
2. The Role of the Larynx
3. Place of Articulation
4. Manner of Articulation
5. Airstream
6. Vowel Description
7. The Phonetics of Vowel Sounds
8. Comparative Phonetics of Vowel Systems
9. The Phonetics of Consonant Systems
10. Comparative Phonetics of Consonant Systems
11. Connected Speech: Segment Dynamics
12. Beyond the Segment
13. The Phonetics of the English Intonation System
14. Comparative Phonetics of Suprasegmentals