Phonetics for Dummies

Learn to:* Understand the science behind speech* Grasp real-world applications of phonetics* Transcribe speech using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)* Perform well in your phonetics courseThe clear and easy way to understand the science behind speech!This detailed guide helps you comprehend the process of how speech is produced, how to transcribe speech using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), how to read a sound spectrogram, and so much more. Written in plain English, and accompanied by dozens of helpful illustrations and a free online resource, this is your go-to guide to the fascinating world of phonetics!* Start with Phonetics 101 - understand the basics of speech, fixed and movable articulators, and speech sound classifications* Meet your secret code - find out how to use the IPA to transcribe speech* Get a primer on speech acoustics - explore the fundamental frequency of phonation, harmonics, and formant frequencies* Delve into practical transcribing situations - become familiar with how to transcribe accents, dialects, children's speech, and disordered speech* Learn the real-world applications of phonetics - discover the role phonetics plays in speech language pathology, audiology, language teaching, forensics, telecommunications, acting, voice coaching, and moreOpen the book and find:* The fundamentals of phonetics and phonology* How speech is produced* Tips on reading a sound spectrogram* How to understand the melody of language* Ways to transcribe emotion in speech* How to avoid ten common mistakes beginner transcribers make* Practical experience transcribing vowels, consonants, and phonological processes with the online resource