Speak with Distinction: The Classic Skinner Method to Speech on the Stage [Paperback]

Edith Skinner (Author), Lilene Mansell (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000

Widely recognized as the most complete and rigorous text of its kind since it was first published in 1942, Speak With Distinction is an invaluable resource. It presents a comprehensive study of the sounds of Spoken English in their most important phonetic environments. This most recent revision also adds much material for comparisons of speech sounds; suggestions for accurate, efficient and conversational ways of combining the sounds into connected utterance; indications that foster a working knowledge of two dialects of speech (General American and what Mrs. Skinner called Good Speech for classic and elevated texts); and beginning material to show application of the principles of Good Speech to well-written texts. Some important additions to the book are the extensive Glossary and Index, abundant guides to pronunciations, new sections featuring such details as the complete "Ask-List" of words, a program for the elimination of glottal attacks of vowel and dipthong sounds, greatly expanded practice material of phrases and sentences, and an updated Chart showing several levels of phonetic transcription and spelling equivalents in current usage. Speak With Distinction can be used in several ways: as a primary educational textbook for both the beginning and advanced actor; as a supplementary textbook for teachers and students who have their own methods and agenda for study; and as a reference book for teachers, speech coaches and directors.

Product Details

• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: Applause Books; Revised edition (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557830479
• ISBN-13: 978-1557830470
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,192 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Speak with perfect speech!, April 9, 2000

By 

Sean Morrone (Seattle, Washington, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Speak with Distinction: The Classic Skinner Method to Speech on the Stage (Paperback)

I am a theater student at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington. This book is required in my speech class and it is amazing. This book teaches one the fundamentals of how to read and write in phonetics. It also has many pages full of drills one can use to perfect their speech. Easy to follow and a handy book to use.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book and it's scientific!, May 15, 2005

By 

Pattra Reakatanan "mism cmu" (Pitsburgh PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Speak with Distinction: The Classic Skinner Method to Speech on the Stage (Paperback)

This book is understandable and well-organized. I am international and people had a hard time understanding my English. After studying this book thoroughly with assistance from my great tutor, my spoken English has dramatically improved! People do not ask me to repeat my words any more.

This book made readers understand how to pronounce all the vowels and consonants in scientific way! Please read and you will like it.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a classic, March 20, 2002

By 

M. Tang (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Speak with Distinction: The Classic Skinner Method to Speech on the Stage (Paperback)

This book is a must have for anyone who wants to increase their voice skills. this is a textbook for my vocal production and audition class. it's necessary for actors to pronounce words correctly. for the everyday person, we must be understood. this book teaches the international phonetic alphabet that covers all the possible sounds spoken in the american language. it is a how to manual that guides you through each sound. this book is invaluable to anyone that wants to improve one's voice. there are plenty drills and exercises in the book for one to practice. the coolest thing about this method is that it teaches you exactly where to place your tongue to make the appropriate sounds. i don't know you but that is very useful. in schools we were taught to imitate and mimic through repeatition. i find it much more easier to learn voice when one know how sounds are produce instead of trial and error. this is a classic book for anyone to get because we all communicate. my teacher and i'm sure many others, call this the bible of voice training. anyone that requires voice for their livelihood must get this book, especially a hypnotherapist or a presenter.