A Course in Phonology

This textbook presupposes no prior knowledge of phonology or phonetics, and takes the learner step by step through the various stages and areas of the discipline without sacrificing rigor or breadth of coverage. The book's extraordinary clarity makes it readily understandable by anyone with a keen interest in phonology.The substance of phonology is more constant and more general than the limitations inherent in any particular theory or formalism may suggest. The book therefore provides a coherent account for beginner-students, rooted primarily - but by no means exclusively - in the phonology of English. No particular theory or formal apparatus is preferred over another; instead, the essence of phonology is provided in the most neutral possible way, for the maximum benefit of the reader. The book avoids entanglement in doctrinal disputes and formal minutiae, and aims instead for the general and the permanent.The book reviews all the major advances that have taken place in generative phonology over the past thirty years, including the recent Optimality Theory. Its many pedagogical features encourage interaction with the reader, and include a wealth of check-points, chapter previews and summaries, lists of key points, and exercises for further practice.

ISBN 0631213465   Pages 752 ISBN13 9780631213468 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd   Weight (grammes) 1280 Imprint Blackwell Publishers   Published in Oxford Format Paperback   Height (mm) 249 Publication date 17 Mar 1999   Width (mm) 175 Library of Congress 98051941   Spine width (mm) 39 DEWEY 414   Academic level Undergraduate, Professional / Scholarly, Postgraduate DEWEY edition DC21

		Preface
		Acknowledgements
		Reading Logistics
		Key to Symbols
Pt. I		Phonetics and Phonology		1
1		How Are Sounds Made? The Production of Obstruents		3
2		Introducing Phonology: Assimilation		31
3		Sonorant Consonants		58
4		Natural Classes of Sounds: Distinctive Features		85
5		Vowel Sounds: Cardinal Vowels		114
6		Phonological Processes Involving Vowel Features		143
7		The Vowels of English		169
8		The Timing Tier and the Great Vowel Shift		204
Pt. II		Suprasegmental Structure		233
9		The Syllable		235
10		Syllable Complexity: English Phonotactics		261
11		The Phenomenon of Stress: Rhythm		294
12		Metrical Principles and Parameters		321
13		Syllable Weight. Further Metrical Machinery		349
14		Tonal Phonology		382
Pt. III		Advanced Theory		409
15		Modes of Application: The Cycle		411
16		Domains of Application: Lexical and Prosodic Phonology		444
17		Aspects of Lexical Representation: Underspecification, Markedness and Feature Geometry		498
18		Rules and Derivations		543
19		Constraints: Optimality Theory		584
20		Looking Back and Moving On		630
		More...

"An outstanding didactic achievement likely to replace other publications in the area of introductory phonology ... An excellent introduction to the theory and practice of mainstream generative phonology and should be on the reading list of any course on this topic. It has been written by people who are not only exceptionally good at doing linguistics, but also at teaching it." Lingua "A Course in Phonology is a success story overall, in terms of its vast coverage and its pedagogical goals. Roca and Johnson are to be congratulated on this accomplishment, to be sure, as these will be features that will appeal to students and instructors alike. The presentation is logical and clear. Exercises are well chosen ... I have no doubt that A Course in Phonology will be, because of its depth and coverage and its attention to pedagogical concerns, the book of choice for many instructors of phonology." Phonology "Roca has done an impressive job of covering the broad field of phonology in a comprehensive yet accessible manner. Beginning with the basic principles of phonological investigation, the text leads the reader through all major theoretical frameworks, up to and including Optimality Theory. Professor Roca's experience as an educator is evident in both content and quality; constant self-checks ensure the active participation of the reader." Kevin Vardin, Meiji Gakuin University "[T]he meticulous care and exceptionally readable manner in which this broadly-based survey of phonology is presented will almost certainly ensure it becomes a highly successful introduction to the field." Journal of the International Phonetic Association

 Be the first to write a customer review