Designed for students with only a basic knowledge of linguistics, this leading textbook provides a clear and practical introduction to phonology, the study of sound patterns in language. It teaches in a step-by-step fashion the logical techniques of phonological analysis and the fundamental theories that underpin it. This thoroughly revised and updated edition teaches students how to analyze phonological data, how to think critically about data, how to formulate rules and hypotheses, and how to test them.

New to this edition:
• Improved examples, over 60 exercises and 14 new problem sets from a wide variety of languages encourage students to practise their own analysis of phonological processes and patterns
• A new and updated reference list of phonetic symbols and an updated transcription system, making data more accessible to students
• Additional online material includes pedagogical suggestions and password-protected answer keys for instructors

Review

'Odden's [Introducing] Phonology is unequalled in its explanations of basic phonological concepts and the reasoning behind phonological analyses. This book shows how to do phonology and how to think like a phonologist.' B. Elan Dresher, University of Toronto

'Odden's emphasis on detailed argumentation and analysis of case studies places this textbook on a par with the best introductions to phonological theory, Kenstowicz and Kisseberth's Generative Phonology (1979) and Kenstowicz's Phonology in Generative Grammar (1993), and happily occupies a level of difficulty intermediate between the two, suitable for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students. Students and professors alike should appreciate the critical and updated eye cast on the building blocks of classical generative phonology, and the unusually large number of thoroughly worked examples from unfamiliar languages.' Bert Vaux, University of Cambridge

'For its wealth of examples and data sets alone this book is a real gold mine.' Martin Krämer, University of Tromsø

Book Description

This thoroughly revised edition provides a clear and practical introduction to phonology, the study of sound patterns in language.

About the Author

David Odden is Professor Emeritus in Linguistics at Ohio State University.