Introducing Phonetic Science

This accessible textbook provides a clear and practical introduction to phonetics, the study of speech.

Michael Ashby (Author), John Maidment (Author)

9780521808828, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 March 2005

232 pages
24.4 x 17 x 1.4 cm, 0.57 kg

'This introductory textbook in phonetics is excellently composed and written, it's style being mostly clear and elegant in spite of the complex topic. It contains a large number of figures, tables and practical exercises. Illuminating sound examples have been taken from several languages from different parts of the world. It also treats some issues that are usually not included in introductory textbooks, e.g. voice types, click modification, hearing deficiencies. ... the book will be highly recommendable, due to its very high quality in terms of coverage, as well as macro- and micro-level composition.' Moderna Sprak

This accessible textbook provides a clear and practical introduction to phonetics, the study of speech. Assuming no prior knowledge of the topic, it introduces students to the fundamental concepts in phonetic science, and equips them with the essential skills needed for recognizing, describing and transcribing a range of speech sounds. Numerous graded exercises enable students to put these skills into practice, and the sounds introduced are clearly illustrated with examples from a variety of English accents and other languages. As well as looking at traditional articulatory description, the book introduces acoustic and other instrumental techniques for analysing speech, and covers topics such as speech and writing, the nature of transcription, hearing and speech perception, linguistic universals, and the basic concepts of phonology. Providing a solid foundation in phonetics, Introducing Phonetic Science will be invaluable to all students beginning courses in linguistics, speech sciences, language pathology and language therapy. Further exercises will be available on an accompanying website.

1. Introduction to speech
2. Voice
3. Place of articulation
4. Manner of articulation
5. Vowels
6. Voice II
7. Airstream mechanisms
8. Speech sounds and speech movements
9. Basic phonological concepts
10. Suprasegmentals
11. Speaker and hearer.

Subject Areas: Linguistics [CF]