Phonology: A cognitive grammar introduction

by Geoffrey S. Nathan

Overview

This textbook introduces the reader to the field of phonology, from allophones to faithfulness and exemplars. It assumes no prior knowledge of the field, and includes a brief review chapter on phonetics. It is written within the framework of Cognitive Linguistics, but covers a wide range of historical and contemporary theories, from the Prague School to Optimality Theory. While many examples are based on American and British English, there are also discussions of some aspects of French and German colloquial speech and phonological analysis problems from many other languages around the world. In addition to the basics of phoneme theory, features, and morphophonemics there are chapters on casual speech, first and second language acquisition and historical change. A final chapter covers a number of issues in contemporary phonological theory, including some of the classic debates in Generative Phonology (rule ordering, abstractness, ‘derivationalism’) and proposals for usage-based phonologies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789027219084
Publisher:	John Benjamins Publishing Company
Publication date:	09/18/2008
Series:	Cognitive Linguistics in Practice , #3
Pages:	181
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.50(d)

Editorial Reviews

This is an introduction to phonology with a difference-first, theories and concepts are embedded in a broad narrative of how the study of the speech has developed over the past hundred years, and secondly, the book strives towards a cognitively realistic view of phonology.

John R. Taylor

This book discusses concepts that other modern phonology books often ignore, and presents them in a different and interesting theoretical light and is very accessible to beginning students. The author employs numerous metaphors and comparisons that make reading comprehensible, graphic and enjoyable.

José A. Mompeán

This book can be recommended to anyone who needs to know about phonology but has no need to embrace a particular theory: students are introduced to phonological principles without being burdened with elaborate formalism. [...] I would regard Nathan's book as ideal for students of foreign language teaching or for prospective speech and language therapists (for use with other sources of disordered phonology).

Linda Shockey

This book discusses concepts that other modern phonology books often ignore, and presents them in a different and interesting theoretical light and is very accessible to beginning students. The author employs numerous metaphors and comparisons that make reading comprehensible, graphic and enjoyable.

José A. Mompeán