Intended for the absolute beginner, Introducing Phonetics and Phonology requires no previous background in linguistics, phonetics, or phonology. Starting with a grounding in phonetics and phonological theory, this book provides a base from which more advanced treatments may be approached. It begins with an examination of the foundations of articulatory and acoustic phonetics, moves on to the basic principles of phonology, and ends with an outline of some further issues within contemporary phonology. Varieties of English, particularly Received Pronunciation and General American, are often used for exemplification, but aspects of the phonetics and phonology of other languages are discussed as well. This new edition includes revised exercises and examples; a new chapter on the distinction between phonetics and phonology and a discussion of differing but complementary roles of phonetics and phonology; and material on current approaches to phonology, including Optimality Theory, Radical CV Phonology, and Government Phonology. Introducing Phonetics and Phonology, fifth edition, remains the essential introduction for any students studying this topic for the first time.