Book excerpt: An introduction to the fundamentals of linguistic phonetics filled with learning tools that focus on practical phonetic transcription skills. Through in-text exercises and accompanying audio recordings, this introductory text makes the learning of phonetics clear, systematic, and easy. Appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate students in the speech and hearing professions, this book focuses on teaching students the practical skills necessary to successfully perform phonetic transcription of individuals with speech sound disorders. Beginning with pertinent information on normal speech production, this introductory text then introduces students to the transcription of consonants and vowels, connected speech, and individuals with speech sound disorders. Students also learn the transcription of regional and ethnic dialectal variations of speech. Throughout the well-organized text, CD icons, learning exercises, objectives, and study questions help students learn and process the text's material.