{"product_id":"the-phonetics-and-phonology-of-approximants-hardcover","title":"The Phonetics and Phonology of Approximants - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMartin J. Ball\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eApproximants are an especially interesting group of consonants. They consist of four separate types, traditionally termed \u003cem\u003elateral approximants, rhotic (or central) approximants, semi-vowels\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003efrictionless continuants\u003c\/em\u003e. The contributors to \u003cem\u003eThe Phonetics and Phonology of Approximants\u003c\/em\u003e examine the phonetics and phonology of this diverse group of sounds and also look at the question of whether they should, in fact, be grouped together.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003ePart 1 of this four-part volume contains seven chapters dealing with the general characteristics of approximants: their articulatory features, acoustics, and perception, together with phonological and sociolinguistic aspects, concluding with surveys of approximant systems in the languages of the world and means of transcribing them phonetically. Part 2 has five chapters examining the acquisition of approximants (in Maltese, Spanish, Portuguese, and English) and the effects of speech disorders of different types on the production of these sounds. Part 3 describes approximant systems in a variety of the languages of the world, including several Indo-European languages but also examples of Dravidian, Semitic, Uralic, and Sinitic languages, and languages from Africa, South America, and Australia. The final part contains a single chapter that examines the approximant category phonetically and phonologically, asking whether the approximant consonant group is justified.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Phonetics and Phonology of Approximants\u003c\/em\u003e offers a holistic yet detailed understanding of the fascinating concept of approximants and its many implications.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMartin J. Ball is an honorary professor in the School of Linguistics and English Language at Bangor University, Wales.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 504\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.51 x 9.11 x 6.01 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 28, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68224210731229,"sku":"9781487528867","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/9867\/8237\/files\/ErT3VVAGBK9781487528867.webp?v=1792399603","url":"https:\/\/handfulofbooks.com\/products\/the-phonetics-and-phonology-of-approximants-hardcover","provider":"Handful of Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}