Fundamentals of Phonetics, Phonology and Tonology

This book is, to some extent, a reference work uniting theory and description. It comprises four structured parts: Phonetics, Phonology, Tonology, and Specific African Sound Patterns. By means of concrete examples, the book describes and compares a wide range of basic and current issues and facts that are of utmost relevance for all persons working on language or linguistics as well as in related fields. The book provides core instruments needed and used in the study of phonology and phonological analyses. It discusses modern phonological theories. Phonological issues and processes, such as vowel harmony, assimilation, dissimilation, lenition, as well as fortition are explained. Prosodic topics, such as tone, stress, pitch, and intonation are considered. Issues in tonology include tonological analysis, tonal behaviour and rules. Special attention is given to specific sounds found in African languages.

Autorentext

The Author: Rose-Juliet Anyanwu, Dr. phil., Dr. phil. habil., is «Privatdozentin» in the Department of African Linguistics at the University of Frankfurt am Main (Germany), where she lectures, and also carries out research. Besides, she teaches Phonetics and Phonology in the Department of Ethnology and African Studies at the University of Mainz.

Zusammenfassung
«The book is innovative in its scope, intent and approach. In fact, compared to other text books say on phonology or phonetics, this book is not exactly a textbook in the traditional sense. It seems encyclopedic in nature, pulling together a vast array of fundamental concepts that are useful to the various fields and providing a broad overview of important current issues and theories in phonology.» (Augustine Agwuele, The Linguist)

Inhalt

Contents: Essentials of phonetics - Articulatory and acoustic phonetics - Airstream mechanisms - Co-articulation - Prosody and suprasegmental features - Essentials of phonology - Higher phonological structure - Phonological theories - Essentials of tonology - Tone rules - Tonal behaviour and changes - Tone and intonation - Specific African sound patterns - Phonological systems of African languages.