Principles of Phonetics

by John Laver

• ISBN13: 9780521456555
• ISBN10: 052145655X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1994-06-24
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

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.