Introduction 1
Ⅰ．The Importance of Learning Phonetics 1
Ⅱ．Ways of Learning English Pronunciation 3
Ⅲ．The Sounds of Language 5
Ⅳ．Phonetic Symbols 6
Chapter One Speech Organs and English Phonemes 13
Ⅰ．The Organs of Speech and their functions 13
Ⅱ．The Fundamental Conception and the Classification of Phonemes 16
Ⅲ．English Vowels 24
1．Monophthongs 25
2．Diphthongs 51
3．Triphthongs 66
4．Basic Review about Vowels 67
Ⅳ．English Consonants 69
A．Plosive Consonants 70
B．Fricative Consonants 75
C．Africate Consonants 91
D．Nasal Consonants 97
E．Lateral Consonants 103
F．Semi-vowels 107
Chapter Two Variations of Sounds 112
Ⅰ．The Length of Sounds 113
Ⅱ．Consonant Clusters 117
Ⅲ．Incomplete Plosives 122
Ⅳ．Liaison 129
Ⅴ．Elision and Assimilation 136
Chapter Three Rhythm in Sentences 146
Ⅰ．Syllables and Word Stress 146
Ⅱ．General Rules of Pronouncing 158
Ⅲ．Sentence Stress 168
Ⅳ．Strong Form and Weak Form 177
Ⅴ．Sense Group and Pausing 185
Ⅵ．Rhythm 191
Chapter Four Intonation 200
Ⅰ．General Knowledge about Intonation 200
1．What Is Intonation? 200
2．Tone-language and Intonation-language 201
3．The Tone-unit 202
4．Symbols of Intonation 204
5．Functions of Intonation 206
Ⅱ．Tone Patterns 210
1．The Fa lling Tone-the glide-down 210
2．The High Falling Tone 214
3．The High Rising Tone-the glide-up 215
4．The Low Rising Tone-the take-off 220
5．The Falling-rising Tone-the "dive" 223
6．Long Sentences Containing More Than One Tone-unit 227
7．Conclusion 229
Appendix 241
Ⅰ．The Comparisons in Pronunciation and Intonation Between British English and American English 241
Ⅱ．Key to Listening Practice 251
Ⅲ．Glossary 261
Bibliography 267