Book Description

This is a fully integrated course book aimed at university students of English in the German-speaking region. It presents a staged and clearly developed introduction to the theory of pronunciation combined with a wealth of transcription exercises and an accompanying CD. The book requires no prior knowledge of linguistics. From the outset, it explains key concepts in easy-to-understand language, highlights key terms in the text for easy review, and gives translations of many of the terms into German. Additionally, a glossary provides students with a handy quick reference. A special feature of the book is that particular attention is given to areas the authors have experienced as challenging for students, such as the difference between phonetics and phonology, inconsistencies in terminology, and different transcription conventions. The transcription exercises guide students from exploratory tasks to basic transcription to the more demanding transcription of natural dialogue, and all exercises are supplied with annotated solutions. The book is carefully divided into lessons and exercises which can be managed in 12 two-hour classes, leaving enough time for review and examination in a university term of 14 weeks or more. Despite its clearly defined scope, the book also prepares the students for the study of other languages or for courses in general linguistics through its general approach and frequent references to other languages. As an independent and fully-integrated course, A Manual of English Phonetics and Phonology presents the teacher with a valuable class-ready resource, and the student with a stimulating, attainable, and insightful introduction to the study of linguistics in general, and phonetics and phonology in particular.