Click here to return to the book catalog page

A Singer's Manual of Foreign Language Dictions
Sixth Edition: Revised and Expanded

Table of Contents

    Dedication                                                                                  v
    Foreword                                                                                  x
    Preface to the Sixth Edition                                                        xi
    Acknowledgements                                                                   xii
    Legend                                                                                     xii

Chapter 1—International Phonetic Alphabet                             1
   Vowels                                                                                        2
   Diphthongs                                                                                  4
    Glides                                                                                         5
    Syllabic Consonants                                                                    5
    Consonants and Consonant Combinations                                   6
    Primary and Secondary Stress Marks                                          7   
    Transcription of Foreign Languages                                             7
    Dictionaries                                                                                8
   Vocal Tract                                                                                 9
    Vowel Triangle                                                                         10
    Glossary of Terms                                                                    11
   Conclusion                                                                                13

Chapter 2—Roman Church Latin                                             15
   Vowels                                                                                      16
    Diphthongs                                                                               16
    Consonants and Consonant Combinations                                 17

Chapter 3—Italian Diction                                                        23
   Vowels                                                                                     23
   Glides                                                                                        30
   Diphthongs                                                                                32
   Consonants and Consonant Combinations                                  32
   Linking Syllables                                                                        39

Chapter 4—German Diction                                                     41
   Vowels                                                                                      41
         Closed vowels                                                                     41
         Open vowels                                                                       43
    Diphthongs                                                                               51
     Consonants and Consonant Combinations                                52
   Glottal Stops                                                                             63

Chapter 5—French Diction                                                       67
   Vowels                                                                                     67
        Front vowels                                                                        67
        Back vowels                                                                        70
   Mixed or Rounded Vowels                                                        72
    Nasal Vowels                                                                           75
   Vowel Glides                                                                             78
    Consonants and Consonant Combinations                                 80
   Elision                                                                                        86
   Liaison—Linking                                                                        87
        Linking may not take place:                                                   88

Chapter 6—Spanish Diction                                                      91
   Syllables                                                                                    92
   Diphthongs/Glides                                                                      94
   Glides                                                                                        94
   Vowels                                                                                      96
   Diphthongs                                                                                 99
   Glides                                                                                        99
   Consonants and Consonant Combinations                                101
   Silent Consonants                                                                    109
   Conclusion                                                                              110

Chapter 7—Russian Diction                                                   111
   Present-day Russian (Cyrillic) Alphabet                                   112
   Vowels                                                                                   113
   Russian Vowels/Consonants                                                    114
   Vowels That Harden Preceding Consonants                             116
   Vowels That Soften Preceding Consonants                              119
   Obsolete Vowels                                                                     125
   Semi-Vowel                                                                            126
   Surds                                                                                      127
   Consonants                                                                             129
        Voiceless Clusters                                                              129
        Voiced Clusters                                                                  130
   Special Consonant Combinations                                             144

Chapter 8—Hebrew Diction                                                   147
   Vowels                                                                                  148
   Diphthongs                                                                              148
    Glide                                                                                     148
    Consonants and Consonant Combinations                              149
    Evening Service                                                                      150
   Morning Service                                                                      158
   Torah Service                                                                          160
   Closing Service                                                                        163

Appendix                                                                                 167
   German Exercise                                                                    167
        Leise, leise (German)                                                         167
        Leise, leise, fromme Weise (English)                                   170
        Russian Exercise                                                                171
            CPE?? ??MHOGO ?A?A (Russian)                         171
            Amid the Noisy Ball (English)                                        172
            CPE?? ??MHOGO ?A?A (Vocal Score)                 173

Bibliography                                                                           177

Recommended Dictionaries                                                  179
    Italian                                                                                   179
   German                                                                                 180
   French                                                                                  180
   Spanish                                                                                 180
   Russian                                                                                 181
   English                                                                                  181

Click here to return to the book catalog page

Click here to return to the home page