A replica of the Phaistos Disk.  This was found at Phaistos on the island of Crete and is thought to have been made between 1700 and 1600 BC.  The language is unknown and the script undeciphered.

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Michael Ashby & John Maidment

Introducing Phonetic Science

Chapter 1: Introduction to Speech

Chapter Summary

Phonetic science is concerned with the objective description and analysis of all aspects of speech. The representation of speech depends upon treating it as a succession of sounds. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) aims to provide a symbol for any sound in any language.

The sounds in speech are of two kinds: vowels and consonants. Vowels may be simple, or diphthongal. Segments are grouped into syllables, which are the smallest units that can be pronounced in a natural way. Recording speech with a microphone enables us to display a waveform, on which certain aspects of speech can be observed and measured.

Speech and writing are separate channels through which language messages can be passed. The two channels have different uses, and different characteristics. Writing is important in our culture but we must avoid the mistake of believing that written language can somehow show us what speech is really like (or how it ought to be).