The Phoneme
Its Nature and Use

The book represents for the historian of language an important landmark in the development of linguistics.

Daniel Jones (Author)

9780521108072, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 February 2009

308 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.8 cm, 0.39 kg

The Phoneme, first published in 1950, is now not only a standard work on its subject but comprises Daniel Jone's major and final expression of his theoretical attitudes. This is a reissue of the third edition (1967), which includes the appendix on the history and meaning of the term phoneme. It sets out in detail the author's conclusions about the nature and function of the phoneme, illustrating them from over 40 languages. The book continues to represent for the historian of language an important landmark in the development of linguistics.

Preface
1. Speech sounds
2. The phoneme
3. The semantic function of phonemes
4. Phonetic transcription
5. Other significant elements
6. Minimal distinctions
7. Examples of phonemic grouping
8. Differences of usage in different languages
9. Acoustic impressions
10. Ascertaining the phonemes of a language
11. Need for accurate analysis
12. Difficulties in identifying sounds in special sequences
13. Identification of sounds by characteristics of adjoining sounds
14. Some difficulties in establishing phonemic groupings
15. Gliding sounds and compound sounds
16. Coloured vowels
17. Vowels and consonants as members of the same phoneme
18. Manner of use as a criterion
19. The overlapping of phonemes
20. Di-phonemic sounds
21. Functions of length, stress and voice-pitch
22. Significant length
23. Chronemes
24. Stress, prominence
25. Tonemes
26. Distinctions by complexes of attributes
27. Diaphones
27. Erratic pronunciation
28. Mentalistic and functional conceptions of the phoneme
29. The practical use of the theory of phonemes
30. Further remarks on phonetic writing
31. The phoneme in the history of languages
Appendices
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Linguistics [CF]