In order to speak French as it is spoken by native-speakers, one needs not only to hear the language, but to know what to listen for. This comprehensive and accessible guide to current French pronunciation fulfils precisely this need.

The first three chapters outline the book's aims, level and scope, as well as the general principles of French phonetics. The author also alerts the reader to regional variations in the pronunciation of French. He then turns to specifics, including vowels, semi-consonants and consonants, providing the reader with the basic knowledge needed to understand later chapters which discuss these parts of speech at greater length. Interspersed are other chapters covering such important aspects of French pronunciation as rhythmic groups, the syllable, liaison and intonation.

The orientation of "An Introduction to French Pronunciation" is consistently practical, and phonetic theory and technical terminology are kept to the minimum necessary. It will be of interest to anyone with a basic knowledge of French who needs help and advice in achieving a more authentic pronunciation.

A truly unique introductory textbook, Public Speaking and Democratic Participation: Speech, Deliberation, and Analysis in the Civic Realm provides a comprehensive introduction to the basic skills involved in public speaking--including reasoning, organization, outlining, anxiety management, style, delivery, and more--through the lens of democratic participation. It helps students develop the skills to distinguish between productive and unproductive public discourse; participate in and lead constructive discussions of community issues; and analyze public messages as an act of civic participation. By integrating the theme of civic engagement throughout, Public Speaking and Democratic Participation offers a direct and inspiring response to the alarming decline in civic participation in the U.S. and the climate of vindictiveness in our current political culture. It equips students with the tools to reverse these tendencies and move toward a greater commitment to our shared public life.

Methods of representing individual voices were a primary concern for Geoffrey Chaucer. While many studies have focused on how he expresses the voices of his characters, especially in The Canterbury Tales, a sustained analysis of how he represents his own voice is still wanting. This book explores how Chaucer's first-person narrators are devices of self-representation that serve to influence representations of the poet. Drawing from recent developments in narratology, the history of reading, and theories of orality, this book considers how Chaucer adapts various rhetorical strategies throughout his poetry and prose to define himself and his audience in relation to past literary traditions and contemporary culture. The result is an understanding of how Chaucer anticipates, addresses, and influences his audience's perceptions of himself that broadens our appreciation of Chaucer as a master rhetorician.

Why doesn't the Millennial Generation embrace news as its grandparents' generation did? Who or what is responsible for the rejection of news by this generation born between the early 1980s and late 1990s? Is Millennial enthusiasm for social media related to a lack of affection for news? Is it too late to transform Millennials into consumers of news? Using never-before-published survey data on attitudes toward news and social media use as well as scholarly reports, public opinion polls, news stories, and observations from journalists, academics, and professionals, Millennials, News, and Social Media: Is News Engagement a Thing of the Past? answers these questions and much more - from the rarely expressed Millennial point of view. Millennials, News, and Social Media helps us understand the generation that came of age as the importance of news waned and social media emerged. It offers insight into which factors will determine whether we will be a society of news consumers who believe being informed is important or a nation in which news illiteracy is the norm. Devastating consequences await the news media, journalism schools, our democracy, and the everyday lives of individuals if we become a nation in which news consumers are extinct and being informed of news is no longer valued. As the first book to explore these important issues, it will appeal to students, scholars, and journalists as well as others who care about developing young people into informed and civically engaged citizens.

This is an articulatory reference guide for actors and anyone fascinated by the modern Scots language. This book focuses on the particular dialects and accents of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh. With particular attention to the pronunciation and sounds of modern urban Scots, this guide is ideal for those studying it for theatrical purposes who want to honour unique regional accents or simply those studying language and linguistics.

Sound Patterns of Spoken English is a concise, to-the-point compendium of information about the casual pronunciation of everyday English as compared to formal citation forms. The book examines changes that occur to certain sounds and in certain parts of words and syllables in the casual, unmonitored speech of native English speakers. It outlines major phonological processes found in conversational English; reviews and criticizes attempts to include these processes in phonological theory; and surveys experimental approaches to explaining casual English pronunciation. Among the varieties of English covered are General American and Standard Southern British, but many other accents are mentioned, especially those of mainland Britain. Sound Patterns of Spoken English is of interest to students and scholars in a wide variety of fields, including sociolinguistics, lexicography, rhetoric, language learning and speech sciences, and has an accompanying website - http://www. blackwellpublishing. com/shockey - with examples from different accents.

Speaking Greek supports the second edition of the bestselling beginner's course, Reading Greek, by providing on two CDs lively new recordings of some of the ancient texts presented in the Text volume. Made by experts and accompanied by special sound effects, the tracks include readings from Homer, Herodotus, Euripides, Aristophanes and Demosthenes. There is also a new introductory track containing a talk by Professor David Langslow about the sounds of ancient Greek. An accompanying leaflet provides a summary, a description of technical terms and further reading. These new CDs will enlighten the experience of the student of ancient Greek, demonstrating that this was a living language, spoken as well as read.

Speak a new language with confidence with this accessible guide to correct pronunciation! Fear of mispronunciation prevents many people from daring to speak a new language. Don't let that fear hold you back! The Say It Right series makes mastering correct pronunciation easy. This accessible series uses easy-to-read vowel symbols that, when combined with consonants, make pronunciation simple-even if you have no previous experience with the language. Say It Right in French, Third Edition features clear pronunciations for 500 key words and phrases in French. Thematic sections cover all essential travel situations, while a handy dictionary and verb index allow for quick reference. This updated edition also includes a new chapter filled with words and expressions related to social media and the latest digital trends, ideal for making connections with new French-speaking friends. Say It Right in French, Third Edition features: * More than 500 essential French words and phrases * A field-tested, easy-to-use pronunciation system* Words and expressions to spark up conversations, make friends, stay in touch through social media, and more The EPLS (Easily Pronounced Language Systems) approach is based on an intuitive, sound-based pronunciation system and has been extensively field-tested with native-speaking teachers and certified language consultants. Go to iSayItRight.com to learn more.

The Singer's Guide to German Diction is the essential foundation for a complete course in German diction for singers, vocal coaches, choral conductors, and anyone wishing to learn to learn the proper pronunciation of High German. Written by Valentin Lanzrein and Richard Cross, who each have years of experience on stage, in the voice studio, and in the diction classroom, it provides an all-encompassing and versatile reference for the rules of German diction and their exceptions. Featuring an easily navigable format that uses tables and charts to support a visual understanding of the text, this guide allows the reader to find information on diction rules and quick help with the formation of each sound. It also places an emphasis on exceptions to the rules, which are crucial in learning the proper pronunciation of any language. Exceptions are not only provided with the diction rules, but are also gathered in a specific section for ease of reference. A glossary of difficult words, names, and exceptions is provided in the appendix, along with a section on Latin pronounced in the German manner. Extensive pronunciation exercises, as well as IPA transcription worksheets and short examples from the vocal literature, are used for practical application of the diction rules, and feature musical exercises drawn from art song, opera, and oratorio. The book's companion website supplements these musical exercises with high-quality audio clips recorded by leading professional singers, providing an invaluable resource for independent study. A comprehensive companion for teachers, students, and singers alike, The Singer's Guide to German Diction brings German diction to life through its well-structured system of practice and reference materials.

Querying Consent examines the ways in which the concept of consent is used to map and regulate sexual desire, gender relationships, global positions, technological interfaces, relationships of production and consumption, and literary and artistic interactions. From philosophy to literature, psychoanalysis to the art world, the contributors to Querying Consent address the most uncomfortable questions about consent today. Grounded in theoretical explorations of the entanglement of consent and subjectivity across a range of textual, visual, multi- and digital media, Querying Consent considers the relationships between consent and agency before moving on to trace the concept's outcomes through a range of investigations of the mutual implication of personhood and self-ownership.

From the Foreword by Renee Fleming: "Kathryn LaBouff has developed an approach to singing in the English language which is wonderfully user-friendly, and which has surely saved much wear and tear on my voice. It is a technique that has empowered me with the knowledge and skills to bring a text to life and to be able to negotiate all of the sounds of the language with the least amount of effort. I have found her clever and extremely creative use of substitute consonants or combinations of consonants in creating clear diction utterly delightful because they are surprising and because they work. These techniques have been equally useful when singing in foreign languages. We sopranos are not usually known to have good diction, particularly in our high range. I found that working with Kathryn improved my ability to be understood by an enormous percentile of the audience with much less vocal fatigue than I would have experienced if left to my own devices. I have often told my colleagues enthusiastically of her interesting solutions to the frustrating problems of diction. I am thrilled that her techniques are now in print for all to benefit from them." In Singing and Communicating in English, internationally renowned diction coach Kathryn LaBouff provides singers with an accessible guide to the principles of English diction they need to communicate the text successfully. Her thorough and much sought-after technique clarifies the physiology of speech, emphasizes the studied practice of careful and articulate pronunciation, and focuses on the study of English cadence. Covering aspects of phonetics from vowels to diphthongs to fricatives, the book includes multiple practical exercises in International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions, helpful diagrams, and pronunciation drills, each chosen from the most essential English art song and operatic repertoire. In addition to standard American and British English, a variety of regional dialects and accents are covered in depth. A companion website features a full range of vowel/consonant drills, poems read aloud by the author and veteran theater and voiceover actor John Keating, as well as an instructor's answer key, and publishers' lists to help the singer locate a vast array of English language works for performance. This book is an invaluable resource for all vocalists (both professional and aspiring), diction instructors, teachers, and coaches, and choral directors. VISIT THE COMPANION SITE AT www.oup.com/us/singinginenglish About the Author Kathryn LaBouff teaches English Diction and English Vocal Literature at the Juilliard School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Curtis Institute of Music. Diction Coach for the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Washington Opera, she has coached and prepared more than 300 professional opera productions in English.

Sound Patterns of Spoken English is a concise, to-the-point compendium of information about the casual pronunciation of everyday English as compared to formal citation forms. The book examines changes that occur to certain sounds and in certain parts of words and syllables in the casual, unmonitored speech of native English speakers. It outlines major phonological processes found in conversational English; reviews and criticizes attempts to include these processes in phonological theory; and surveys experimental approaches to explaining casual English pronunciation. Among the varieties of English covered are General American and Standard Southern British, but many other accents are mentioned, especially those of mainland Britain. Sound Patterns of Spoken English is of interest to students and scholars in a wide variety of fields, including sociolinguistics, lexicography, rhetoric, language learning and speech sciences, and has an accompanying website - http://www. blackwellpublishing. com/shockey - with examples from different accents.

Here is a unique collection of engaging story hour activities to help school and public librarians spark young children's love of books and reading as they learn each letter of the alphabet and letter-sound relationships.

From Alligators for A to Zoo for Z, this resource provides over 100 ready-to-use multisensory activities, games, and patterns based on innovative themes and favorite fiction and nonfiction books for beginning readers.

These story hour activities are ideal for integrating library skills into the early childhood program and include a wide variety of projects to appeal to the multiple learning styles of any group of children. For each letter of the alphabet you'll find:

• a motivating Introductory Activity such as an interactive game, a set of riddles, a drawing story, a message rebus, or a felt-board story, e.g., For A, you use a roll of paper towels to gradually reveal seven intriguing facts about Alligators.
• An extensive Annotated Reading List including at least 10 related recommended story books for read-alouds plus nonfiction sources for extended learning and research, e.g., The Pirate Who Tried to Capture the Moon and Sunken Treasure for Pirates.
• A fun and easy Recipe related to the theme, e.g., "Swamp Juice" for Frogs ... "Graham Cracker Houses" for Home ... and "Sunrise on the Amazon" for Rain Forest
• A Music Activity based on well-known tunes such as "Three Blind Mice" and "Old MacDonald," with music and related fingerplays/movements provided, e.g., "We Took a Walk in the Woods" for Camping ... "The Meatball Counting Song" for Spaghetti ... and "The Turtle Game" for Turtles
• an Art Activity complete with reproducible patterns, e.g.,"Bubble Creature" for Bubbles ... "Dinosaur Finger Puppets" for Dinosaurs ... and "Monster Hat" for Monsters
• a reproducible Research Project to help children build basic library research skills, e.g., using an encyclopedia with color illustrations to answer several questions about Frogs and using a dictionary to find synonyms that rhyme with Love

And to save you time and work, all materials are printed in a big 8-1/4" x 11" lay-flat binding for easy photocopying of the activity sheets and patterns as many times as you need them for use with individual students, small groups or a whole class.

In short, Library Story Hour From A to Z is packed with exciting multisensory activities to introduce young children to each letter of the alphabet while exploring a wide range of interesting fiction and nonfiction books. These activities not only help you integrate library and classroom instruction but enliven and enrich the entire early childhood curriculum!

Nick Morgan shows how anyone can be an effective speaker by presenting an image of authenticity and respect for their audience, whether in a group presentation or a one-on-one conversation. He presents a four-step process, perfected in his teaching at Harvard, that enables the reader to use their own personal speaking style while becoming a more persuasive and charismatic communicator and leader. The basis of this process is the fact that when words and body language are in conflict, body language wins every time. This isn't easy to overcome, because normally body language is immediate, while the words lag slightly behind, and even a momentary conflict is perceptible to the audience. The key to success is to train your body language to unconsciously align with your message.
The four steps:
* Form the attitude and intent to be open, and then let your body naturally express that intent. This feeling of openness will naturally affect the content of what you are saying, and it's that natural evolution that is at the heart of the process.
* Become connected to your audience. This creates a mutual energy, and you will naturally begin to think in terms of what the audience wants and needs in shaping your content.
* Ask yourself, what's my underlying emotion? Why does this matter to me? Becoming passionate about what you have to say naturally makes your audience care about it too.
* Really listen to the audience. Understanding their needs and reactions will enable you to direct your communication in mutually beneficial ways.

The latest edition of New Media and Public Relations offers communication scholars, professionals, and students current insights on how emerging technologies challenge and change the rules of stakeholder engagement in corporate, nonprofit, and activist environments. Topics include updated thinking on mobile applications, crisis response, and ethical implications of online exchanges in addition to groundbreaking explorations into the developing arenas of personas, emojis, listening theory, and historiophoty in public relations practice. All-new content in this popular text once again delivers new thinking in public relations theory and practice for an ever-changing digital landscape. New Media and Public Relations is well-suited for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in public relations principles, management, case studies, and strategy, as well as courses in corporate communication, marketing communication, integrated marketing communication, and digital communication.

Choices & Connections combines current scholarship and pedagogy, developed by a diverse community of expert voices, to provide all students with foundational communication skills to support their success in the human communication classroom and the community.

This is a comprehensive introduction to English text-linguistics. It deals with those areas of text-linguistics that have enjoyed widespread attention in English linguistics, notably aspects of cohesion and coherence. Further topics are corpus-based studies in lexical patterns and in text classifications, psycho-linguistic and cognitive studies in text constitution and decoder-orientation. One special feature of this book is that it not only covers abstract lexical and grammatical structures but also medium-dependent written and spoken presentation.

Designed with the busy college student in mind, SPEAK provides students with the essentials to deliver a successful oral presentation. It contains easy-to-read brief lessons that highlight key points and principles, eye-catching visuals, quips, and quotes drawn from a variety of sources. This compact resource's intuitive organization and page layout allow students to absorb each skill quickly, logically, and memorably.

From the Foreword by Renee Fleming: "Kathryn LaBouff has developed an approach to singing in the English language which is wonderfully user-friendly, and which has surely saved much wear and tear on my voice. It is a technique that has empowered me with the knowledge and skills to bring a text to life and to be able to negotiate all of the sounds of the language with the least amount of effort. I have found her clever and extremely creative use of substitute consonants or combinations of consonants in creating clear diction utterly delightful because they are surprising and because they work. These techniques have been equally useful when singing in foreign languages. We sopranos are not usually known to have good diction, particularly in our high range. I found that working with Kathryn improved my ability to be understood by an enormous percentile of the audience with much less vocal fatigue than I would have experienced if left to my own devices. I have often told my colleagues enthusiastically of her interesting solutions to the frustrating problems of diction. I am thrilled that her techniques are now in print for all to benefit from them."
In Singing and Communicating in English, internationally renowned diction coach Kathryn LaBouff provides singers with an accessible guide to the principles of English diction they need to communicate the text successfully. Her thorough and much sought-after technique clarifies the physiology of speech, emphasizes the studied practice of careful and articulate pronunciation, and focuses on the study of English cadence. Covering aspects of phonetics from vowels to diphthongs to fricatives, the book includes multiple practical exercises inInternational Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions, helpful diagrams, and pronunciation drills, each chosen from the most essential English art song and operatic repertoire. In addition to standard American and British English, a variety of regional dialects and accents are covered in depth. A companion website features a full range of vowel/consonant drills, poems read aloud by the author and by theater and voiceover actor John Keating, as well as an exercise answer key, and publishers' lists to help the singer locate a vast array of English language works for performance.
This book is an invaluable resource for all vocalists (both professional and aspiring), diction instructors, teachers, and coaches, and choral directors. VISIT THE COMPANION SITE AT www.oup.com/us/singinginenglish

Welcome to the world's most efficient method of learning Mandarin Chinese, whether you are striving to learn Chinese on your own, or studying in a classroom setting. Part of the widely-used and highly acclaimed Kubler series, Intermediate Spoken Chinese provides separate but integrated tracks to help you learn to read, write and speak Chinese efficiently, at your own pace. Intermediate Spoken Chinese allows you to experience real-life situations in different Mandarin-speaking locales. (It also exposes you to the authentic range of Chinese accents; you're not limited only to learning an imaginary textbook Beijing accent as in other books.) You can choose to use this book with its corresponding Intermediate Chinese Practice Essentials Workbook, available separately, that offers you a wide range of one-of-a-kind activities to help you practice the language skills you learn here. Key features of Intermediate Spoken Chinese: Clear and detailed explanations of natural, colloquial Chinese grammar, pronunciation and usage Recommended strategies to help you learn to speak Chinese more efficiently Experience the actual speaking styles of Chinese people in various parts of mainland China as well as Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia Notes on Chinese culture and society allow you to understand situational etiquette Discussions of challenges faced specifically by English speakers who are learning Chinese and how to overcome them Audio recordings by native speakers of all the vocabulary, dialogues, and other vital items A separate Teacher's Guide and a full character transcript (Simplified and Traditional) are both available electronically An accompanying software program contains 56 videos shot on location which allows you to view conversations involving Chinese speakers from different parts of China. With this language learning set that includes a textbook, CD-ROM, and DVD, you will be speaking Chinese gracefully and fluidly and feel confident traveling in the Mandarin-speaking world.