5th Edition

Introducing Phonetics and Phonology

By S.J. Hannahs, Mike Davenport Copyright 2025
288 Pages 154 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

288 Pages 154 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

288 Pages 154 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Intended for the absolute beginner, Introducing Phonetics and Phonology requires no previous background in linguistics, phonetics, or phonology. Starting with a grounding in phonetics and phonological theory, this book provides a base from which more advanced treatments may be approached. It begins with an examination of the foundations of articulatory and acoustic phonetics, moves on to the... Read more

Preface to the First Edition

Preface to the Second Edition

Preface to the Third Edition

Preface to the Fourth Edition

Preface to the Fifth Edition

The International Phonetic Alphabet

 

Part I – Phonetics

 

Chapter 1. Introduction

1.1   Phonetics and phonology

1.2   The generative enterprise

Further reading

 

Chapter 2. Introduction to articulatory phonetics

2.1 Overview

2.2 Speech sound classification

2.3 Suprasegmental structure

2.4 Consonants versus vowels

Further reading

Exercises

 

Chapter 3. Consonants

3.1 Stops

3.2 Affricates

3.3 Fricatives

3.4 Nasals

3.5 Liquids

3.6 Glides

3.7 An inventory of English consonants

Further reading

Exercises

 

Chapter 4. Vowels

4.1 Vowel classification

4.2 The vowel space and Cardinal Vowels

4.3 Further classifications

4.4 The vowels of English

4.5 Some vowel systems of English

Further reading

Exercises

 

Chapter 5. Acoustic phonetics

5.1 Fundamentals

5.2 Speech sounds

5.3 Cross-linguistic values

Further reading

Exercises

 

Chapter 6. Above the segment

6.1 The syllable

6.2 Stress

6.3 Tone and intonation

Further reading

Exercises

 

Chapter 7. Features

7.1 Segmental composition

7.2 Phonetic versus phonological features

7.3 Charting the features

7.4 Conclusion

Further reading

Exercises

 

Intermezzo - Distinguishing between phonetics and phonology

Positional restrictions

Phonotactic restrictions

Phonetic reality and native speaker intuitions

Alternations and conditioning  factors

Phonology and Theories

Concrete vs. abstract

Further reading

 

Part II – Phonology

 

Chapter 8. Phonemic analysis

8.1 Sounds that are the same but different

8.2 Finding phonemes and allophones

8.3 Linking levels: rules

8.4 Choosing the underlying form

8.5 Summary

Further reading

Exercises

 

Chapter 9. Phonological alternations, processes and rules

9.1 Alternations versus processes versus rules

9.2 Alternation types

9.3 Representing phonological generalisations: rules and constraints

9.4 Overview of phonological operations

9.5 Summary

Further reading

Exercises

 

Chapter 10. Phonological structure

10.1 The need for richer phonological representation

10.2 Segment internal structure: feature geometry, underspecification and unary features

10.3 Autosegmental phonology

10.4 Suprasegmental structure

10.5 Conclusion

Further reading

Exercises

 

Chapter 11. Derivational analysis

11.1 The aims of analysis

11.2 A derivational analysis of English noun plural formation

11.3 Extrinsic versus intrinsic rule ordering

11.4 Evaluating competing analyses: evidence, economy and plausibility

11.5 Conclusion

Further reading

Exercises

 

Chapter 12. Constraint-based analysis

12.1 Introduction to Optimality Theory

12.2 The aims of analysis

12.3 Modelling phonological processes in OT

12.4 English noun plural formation: an OT account

12.5 Competing analyses

12.6 Conclusion

Further reading

Exercises

 

Chapter 13. Constraining the model

13.1 Constraining derivational phonology: abstractness

13.2 Constraining the power of the phonological component

13.3 Constraining the power of OT

13.4 Other approaches to phonology

13.5 Conclusion

Further reading

 

Glossary

References

Subject Index

Varieties of English Index

Language Index

Biography

S.J. Hannahs is a former Reader in Linguistics at Newcastle University, UK, with particular interests in phonology, morphology, Celtic, Romance, and Germanic linguistics.

Mike Davenport is the former Director at Durham University English Language Centre, UK.