Principles of Phonetics

Comprehensive textbook on phonetics, with examples from over 500 languages.

John Laver (Author)

9780521456555, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 12 May 1994

736 pages, 1 map
22.8 x 15.2 x 4 cm, 1.148 kg

'A treasure house of information on sounds in hundreds of languages … we can all be grateful that there is now such an up-to-date and comprehensive survey of the production of speech and the variety of sounds that are used in languages of the world.' Language

Underlying the apparent diversity shown by thousands of mutually incomprehensible languages of the world, there is a remarkable, elegant and principled unity in the way that these languages exploit the phonetic resources of speech. It is these principles that Professor Laver sets out to describe in this major new textbook. Assuming no previous knowledge of the subject, it is designed for readers who wish to pursue the study of phonetics from an initial to an advanced stage, equipping them with the necessary foundations for independent research. The book moves from a discussion of general concepts to a total of eleven chapters on phonetic classification, and it includes discussion of other issues such as the relationship between phonetics and phonology. There are illustrations from over 500 of the world's languages. Principles of Phonetics will be required reading for all serious students of speech and language.

Introduction
Part I. General Concepts: 1. The semiotic framework
2. The relationship between phonetics and phonology
3. Accent, dialect and language
Part II. The Anayltical Framework: 4. The phonetic analysis of speech
5. The architecture of phonetic classification
Part III. Initiation and Phonotation: 6. Airstream mechanisms
7. Phonation
Part IV. Linear Segmental Analysis: 8. Stop articulations
9. Fricative articulations
10. Resonant articulations
11. Multiple articulations
Part V. Articulatory Co-ordination and Phonetic Settings: 12. Inter-segmental co-ordinations
13. Phonetic similarity and multi-segmental settings
Part VI. Temporal, Prosodic and Metrical Analysis: 14. The temporal organization of speech
segmental duration
15. The prosodic organization of speech: pitch and loudness
16. The metrical organization of speech: stress, syllable weight, prominence and rhythm
17. The temporal organization of speech
continuity and rate
Part VII. Principles of Transcription: 18. Types of transcription
Part VIII
Conclusion: 19. Evaluating general phonetic theory
Envoi
References
Appendices
Index of names
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Phonetics, phonology [CFH]