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Introducing Phonology

Introducing Phonology

David Odden

January 2005 | 247 x 147mm

300pp | 61 exercises

0 521 82669 1 | Hardback

0 521 53404 6 | Paperback

Introducing Phonology

DAVID ODDEN

Ohio State University

This accessible textbook provides a clear and practical introduction to phonology, the study of sound patterns in language. Designed for undergraduates with only a basic knowledge of linguistics, it teaches in a step-by-step fashion the logical techniques of phonological analysis and the fundamental theories that underpin it. Through over sixty graded exercises, students are encouraged to make their own analyses of phonological patterns and processes, based on extensive data and problems sets from a wide variety of languages.

Introducing Phonology equips students with the essential analytical skills needed for further study in the field, such as how to think critically and discover generalizations about data, how to formulate hypotheses, and how to test them. Providing a solid foundation in both the theory and practice of phonology, it is set to become the leading text for any introductory course, and will be invaluable to all students beginning to study the discipline.

"An excellent introduction to phonology. Difficult ideas are presented in an accessible manner--a plus for any textbook. It covers a variety of interesting phonological facts from typologically different languages. Using this text will acquaint students with the essence of theoretical concepts and phonological analyses".
Shosuke Haraguchi, Meikai University

"This book is a godsend for those of us in search for an introduction to phonology... Odden provides the entire package of tools and raw materials that the student needs".
Lee Bickmore, Program in Linguistics and Cognitive Science, Albany University

Table of Contents

  • 1. What is phonology?
  • 2. Phonetic transcriptions
  • 3. Allophonic relations
  • 4. Underlying representations
  • 5. Interacting processes
  • 6. Feature theory
  • 7. Doing an analysis
  • 8. Phonological typology and naturalness
  • 9. Abstractness and psychological reality
  • 10. Nonlinear representations