Acoustics in Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences

Description

Ian R. A. MacKay has been teaching general acoustics and the acoustics of speech to future speech-language pathologists and audiologists, as well as to students of Linguistics and Psychology, for several decades. Over this same time period, he has been teaching phonetics and speech production (speech science in its various manifestations). His research interests include the phonological acquisition of a second language (the learning of the sound system of a second language). He has recently become interested in issues in the biological evolution of the human capacity for speech and language. MacKay is the author of two editions of a general phonetics textbook, the first edition entitled Introducing Practical Phonetics, and the second, much revised edition entitled Phonetics: the Science of Speech Production. MacKay has degrees in Linguistics and Speech Science. He lives with his wife Jo-Anne and an aging standard poodle.

Acoustics in Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences: An Introduction gives readers a clear, comprehensive understanding of acoustics in the context of human communications through examples and analogies from everyday life or general experience. Mathematically the book stops short of calculus, using inductive reasoning to present material that can be proven only with calculus, and presenting multiple examples of mathematical calculations, with very explicit steps. Included are Questions and Problems sections focusing on often-misunderstood areas; Closer Look sections reinforcing and strengthening understanding of the material; and non-conventional, but scientifically accurate explanations of certain phenomena.

Table of Contents

This comprehensive, clearly written, and student-friendly introduction to acoustics and the acoustics of speech is suitable for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students of audiology, speech-language pathology, linguistics, and cognitive science/psychology.

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This comprehensive introduction to acoustics and the science of speech takes a topic that is often challenging to students, and presents it in a clearly written, reader-friendly approach that makes the concepts accessible. Using examples and analogies from everyday life or general experience, the text helps explain aspects of basic acoustics in the context of communication disorders and speech research, with a special emphasis on helping students achieve a high level of understanding.

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In addition to a wealth of pedagogical features, the book includes a helpful reviews of concepts that students might have studied previously, but are essential to understanding the material—reading graphs, the nature of atmospheric pressure, significant digits, scientific notation, numerical scales, basic phonetics, and more. Mathematically the book stops short of calculus, using inductive reasoning to present material.

• Analogies and everyday examples apply scientific methods to commonplace experiences, making them easier to comprehend.
• Multiple examples of mathematical calculations, with explicit steps, help students work through the problems in depth to ensure understanding.
• Questions and Problems sections in most chapters focus on often-misunderstood areas.
• Closer Look sections examine material covered within several chapters in greater depth or from a different angle.
• Refreshers follow a number of chapters and briefly review relevant material students may have studied previously.
• Non-conventional explanations of certain phenomena help students learn traditionally taught ideas from a new perspective.

This comprehensive introduction to acoustics and the acoustics of speech takes a topic that is often challenging to students, and presents it in a clearly written, reader friendly approach that makes the concepts accessible to students from various scientific backgrounds. Using examples and analogies from everyday life or experiences, the text explains aspects of basic acoustics in the context of communication disorders and speech research, with a special emphasis on helping students achieve a high level of actual understanding.

Suitable for upper level undergraduate or graduate students of audiology, speech-language pathology, linguistics, and cognitive science/psychology, the book includes helpful reviews of concepts students might have studied previously, but are essential to understanding the material–reading graphs, the nature of atmospheric pressure, significant digits, scientific notation, numerical scales, basic phonetics, and more. Mathematically the book stops short of calculus, using inductive reasoning to present material.

• Analogies and everyday examples apply scientific methods to commonplace experiences, making them easier to comprehend.
• Multiple examples of mathematical calculations, with explicit steps, help students work through the problems in depth to ensure understanding.
• Questions and Problems sections in most chapters focus on often-misunderstood areas.
• Closer Look sections examine material covered within several chapters in greater depth or from a different angle.
• Refreshers follow a number of chapters and briefly review relevant material students may have studied previously.
• Non-conventional explanations of certain phenomena help students learn traditionally taught ideas from a new perspective.

Additional information