Fundamentals of Phonetics

Fundamentals of Phonetics: A Practical Guide for Students, 6th Edition, by Larry H. Small and Chao-Yang Lee, is a Pearson textbook dedicated to phonetics principles and phonetic transcription. The text provides a systematic introduction intended to help readers understand how speech sounds are generated, classified, and written using standard phonetic notation.

The content establishes a structured thematic progression across key areas of human speech analysis. Coverage details the systematic transcription of individual consonants and vowels. The progression then advances into the mechanics of connected speech and concludes with specialized instruction on identifying and transcribing speech sound disorders.

To facilitate active learning, the textbook incorporates dedicated pedagogical features throughout each chapter. In-text exercises offer regular opportunities for students to practice phonetic transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), reinforcing theoretical knowledge through applied transcription practice.