Practical Phonetics and Phonology

Practical Phonetics and Phonology: A Resource Book for Students offers an accessible introduction to the core concepts of phonetics and phonology. This revised and updated third edition is designed for students with no assumed prior knowledge, guiding them through essential topics such as the phoneme, syllable structure, speech production, vowel and consonant possibilities, glottal settings, stress, rhythm, intonation, and the nuances of connected speech. Organized into four distinct sections—introduction, development, exploration, and extension—the book provides a flexible framework that allows readers to build their understanding progressively. Complete with sample analyses, study questions, activity exercises, and insightful commentaries, the text draws on classic readings from prominent figures including David Abercrombie, David Crystal, Dennis Fry, Daniel Jones, Peter Ladefoged, Peter Trudgill, and John Wells. Enhancing its practical approach, the book comes with an audio CD featuring samples from genuine speakers representing 25 accent varieties from regions across Britain, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Singapore, and West Africa. Additional features include outlines of the sound systems of six key languages, over a hundred engaging activity exercises, and a companion website that offers further guidance, extra exercises, and practice in phonemic transcription.