Description
Book SynopsisThis book provides a complete introductory course on the phonetics of English and Dutch based on an essentially practical approach to the subject. No previous knowledge of phonetics is assumed and all terms are explained in straightforward English as they are introduced. Theoretical and practical aspects of the subject are clarified for the student by means of numerous self-study exercises in articulation and transcription. The book contains a detailed contrastive description of British RP English and of Dutch (in both the Netherlands and Belgian standard varieties). In addition to a full description of the individual vowels and consonants, full attention is paid to features of connected speech, e.g. intonation, assimilation and elision, stress and articulatory setting. There are sections on sound-spelling relationships in English and an analysis of the commonest pronunciations errors in the English of Dutch-speakers. A guide to the technique of phonemic transcription is also provided, with numerous transcription passages for which correction keys are available. One chapter is devoted to differences between British and American pronunciation. Another section provides a survey of a range of British regional accents (e.g. Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Northern, London, Midlands, West Country). Now available with corrections incorporating the reactions of Dutch and Belgian users.
Table of ContentsPreface 1. A working basis 2. The phoneme 3. Transcription 4. The speech mechanism 5. Classification of consonants 6. Fortis/lenis contrast in Dutch and English 7. Secondary articulation 8. Description and classification of vowels 9. Back to the phoneme 10. Phonation and states of the glottis 11. English checked vowels 12. English free vowels 13. Sounds and spelling: vowels 14. The vowels of Dutch 15. English fricative consonants 16. English stop consonants 17. English nasal and approximant consonants 18. Sounds and spelling: consonants 19. The consonants of Dutch 20. Patterns of adjustment in connected speech: assimilation and elision 21. Articulatory setting in English and Dutch 22. Stress and rhythm 23. Pitch, tone and intonation 24. Functions of intonation in English 25. Intonation in Dutch and English compared 26. Error analysis 27. A brief look at other accents of the British Isles 28. Some differences between American and British English Guide to the technique of phonemic transcription Guide to the technique of allophonic description Glossary of technical terms Key to exercises Further reading and list of works consulted Vowel symbols used in various systems of transcription Selected list of diacritics and phonetic symbols The International Phonetic Alphabet English Phonetic Symbol checksheet Index
