It was in teaching the pronunciation of foreign languages that I first realised how important it is to acquire a knowledge of the sounds of the mother tongue. Before the learner can acquire the fresh habits of speech peculiar to the foreign language, his teacher must know clearly what distinguishes the new sounds from those familiar in the mother tongue, for only then can the foreign pronunciation be imparted in a methodical way. It has been shown convincingly that it is vain to trust alto...

As the title of this book is ambitious, and the sub-title may not suffice to indicate its limitations, it is well to warn the reader that he will find no exhaustive treatment of English speech sounds. That would have required knowledge greater than mine, and more space than was at my disposal. The little book is an attempt to gain fellow-workers in a field which is unduly neglected, yet full of promise. Fascinating indeed are the problems afforded by the speech of those around us; perplexi...

I have often been frustrated and amused by natives who want to be understood only by the collusive, other natives and thus resort to the use of esoteric expressions the meanings of which are only privy to their people or even group. The most enduring manner to memorialize the truth is to render the language understandable, even if it entails going back to its proper roots. Typical of me, I chose the hardest of them all: English, specifically because its rules have been intentionally overlo...

With each generation and with each passing day, we grow closer to losing a key part of our nations unique heritagethe Cajun French language. Unless a concerted effort is made to preserve the language, this rich and vibrant culture will soon be relegated to the back pages of history. Cajun Vocabulation is one such labor of loveone mans attempt to preserve the unique heritage of his South Louisiana home.Cajun Vocabulation is a dictionary and pronunciation guide for ...

In recent years game theory has had a substantial impact on computer science, especially on Internet- and e-commerce-related issues. Algorithmic Game Theory, first published in 2007, develops the central ideas and results of this exciting area in a clear and succinct manner. More than 40 of the top researchers in this field have written chapters that go from the foundations to the state of the art. Basic chapters on algorithmic methods for equilibria, mechanism design and combinatorial auc...

Articulatory Phonetics presents a concise and non-technical introduction to the physiological processes involved in producing sounds in human speech.Traces the path of the speech production system through to the point where simple vocal sounds are produced, covering the nervous system, and muscles, respiration, and phonationIntroduces more complex anatomical concepts of articulatory phonetics and particular sounds of human speech, including brain anatomy an...

Since its first publication in 1962, Gimson’s Pronunciation of English has been the essential reference book for anyone studying or teaching the pronunciation of English.This eighth edition has been updated to describe General British (GB) as the principal accent, rather than RP, and the accompanying transcriptions have been brought into line with recent changes in pronunciation. This latest edition also includes completely rewritten chapters on the history of the language...

Linguists researching the sounds of languages do not just study lists of sounds but seek to discover generalizations about sound patterns by grouping them into categories. They study the common properties of each category and identify what distinguishes one category from another. Vowel patterns, for instance, are analysed and compared across languages to identify phonological similarities and differences. This account of vowel patterns in language brings a wealth of cross-linguistic materi...

Poets, academics, and those who simply speak a language are subject to mysterious intuitions about the perceptual qualities and emotional symbolism of the sounds of speech. Such intuitions are Reuven Tsur’s point of departure in this investigation into the expressive effect of sound patterns, addressing questions of great concern for literary theorists and critics as well as for linguists and psychologists.Research in recent decades has established two distinct types of aural percep...

Perfecting the craft of public speaking is like perfecting other crafts. You have to know what tools are available to you, how to use them and use them as often as possible. A carpenter, an electrician and a plumber all have a unique set of tools that they use to deliver their craft. Most of them have a favourite tool or tools that they find are most effective. The same is true for public speaking. Everyone has a Speaker’s Tool Box. It is with you no matter where you go, whom you speak to, or...

This book explores the topics of English accents and pronunciation. It highlights their connections with several important issues in the study of English in the world, including intelligibility, identity, and globalization. The unifying strand is provided by English pronunciation models: what do these models consist of, and why? The focus on pronunciation teaching is combined with sociolinguistic perspectives on global English, and the wider question asked by the book is: what does it mean...

A great speech is more than just words, it is at once truth, emotion, inspiration and conviction. It speaks to the not only to the heart and the mind, but also to the soul. In this book are 50 of the greatest speeches ever given in human history, from Socrates to Nelson Mandela, and with everyone in betweenThe gift of rhetoric is given to just a few great speakers in each generation, who use their words to inspire and uplift the people, sometimes to achieve greatness, at other time...