The Pronunciation of English

This revised second edition provides an introduction to the phonetics and phonology of English. It incorporates all central aspects of research in the phonology of English and involves the reader at every step, with over 80 exercises leading students to discover facts, to formulate general statements, and to apply concepts.

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• Discusses the nature of speech and phonetic description, the principles of phonological analysis, the consonants and vowels of English and their possible sequences.
  
• Provides extensive treatment of rhythm, stress, and intonation and the role of these prosodic elements in discourse.
  
• Includes more than 80 exercises with feedback and glossary of technical terms.
  
• Incorporates developments in phonology since the first edition appeared.

Preface to the second edition xiv

About the book xv

1 Language and speech 1

2 Sound … and voice 13

3 Consonants 30

4 Vowels and Glides 45

5 Syllables and Stress 68

6 Phonotactics 88

7 Consonant and Vowel Variation 108

8 Some consequences of Phonotactics 124

9 The Rhythm of English Speech 140

10 Intonation 163

11 Predicting word stress 179

12 Prefixes, compound words, and phrases 200

13 Phonological processes in speech 223

14 Phonological processes and the lexicon 242

Appendix a list of word‑endings and their effects on stress: 273

Glossary of technical terms 284

Bibliography 296

Index 303

"A must for the professional teacher of English as a second language and the serious student. This book offers a comprehensive snapshot of all the aspects of English sound patterns and provides a solid grounding in pronunciation." Steven Donahue, Language Magazine and Miami-Dade College Charles W. Kreidler is Professor Emeritus of Linguistics at Georgetown University. His publications include The Dynamics of Language (co-author, 1971), Introducing English Semantics (1998), and Phonology: Critical Concepts (edited, 6 volumes, 2000). The Pronunciation of English: A Course Book is an introduction to the phonetics and phonology of English. It incorporates all central aspects of research in the phonology of English and involves the reader at every step, with over 80 exercises leading students to discover facts, to formulate general statements, and to apply concepts.

This revised second edition provides a brief history of the English language, highlighting the main native-speaker varieties that exist today. In succession, it deals with the nature of speech and phonetic description, the principles of phonological analysis, the consonants and vowels of English, and their possible sequences. It provides an extensive treatment of rhythm, stress, and intonation and the role of these prosodic elements in discourse, as well as coverage of phonological processes that make casual, conversational usage different from formal style.

In addition to general updating throughout, this new edition incorporates developments in phonology since the first edition appeared. It also includes a glossary of technical terms and visual aids to assist students with little background in linguistics.