The Communicative Value of Intonation in English, originally published in 1985 by the English Language Research unit in Birmingham and revised in 1992, sets out David Brazil's description of the system of intonation in English.This model of English intonation takes a discourse-based approach and attempts to assign 'meaning' or a communicative value to the different aspects that make up the system of intonation. Chapters within the book descibe parts of the intonation system which vary according to speaker choice: the tone unit as a whole, prominence, key, pitch and orientation. Three chapters are devoted to tones and their communicative value.This is an important and controversial work, which has influenced scholars in the field and ELT materials writers alike.A cassette containing all the examples of intonation features in the book is available.

Phonology for Listening brings listening in English Language Teaching into the 21st century. Learners have problems decoding fast spontaneous speech, and Phonology for Listening - using many recorded examples - provides teachers of English with new concepts, fresh thinking and innovative practical ideas to help students decode the realities of spontaneous speech. It is written for teachers of English worldwide. There are four parts, each with five chapters. The window on speech framework introduces the framework which is used for the analysis and presentation of recorded examples and for teaching listening. Describing spontaneous speech examines what happens to words when they are subjected to the speeds, rhythms and stresses of spontaneous speech. Accents identity and emotion in speech describes accents of Britain and Ireland, North America and of Global English. Identity, prejudice and emotion are also covered. Teaching listening describes practical activities - both low-tech and hi-tech - for improving the teaching of listening in the classroom. Updated and corrected, December 2013 Soundfiles are available for download from the Speech in Action website at www.speechinaction.com