Summary: Publisher Summary 1 A scholarly tribute to the phonetician John Laver (U. of Edinburgh; Queen Margaret U. College), who established the Centre for Speech Technology Research in 1984. Twenty-four contributing academics from Scotland, Ireland, England, The Netherlands, Germany, Australia, and North America provide an overview of key issues in phonetics. Subject areas include instrumental evidence for phonetic theory; cognitive aspects of phonetic processing; phonetics in social processing; and voice quality. The volume includes a bibliography of Laver's writings. Annotation 漏2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)   Publisher Summary 2 This book provides an overview of some of the key theoretical and research issues in phonetics. The aim of the contributors is to show how modern phonetic science has developed around certain topics and to illustrate ways in which phonetic research can address topical and clinical problems. There are a few publications which will prove as valuable as this one to readers who wish to take an integrative approach to the study of phonetics.   Publisher Summary 3 Throughout the world, there are phoneticians who have been influenced by the teaching, research, and writings of John Laver. Many have worked with him personally, and most of the contributors to this book are people with whom he has had special links or whose involvement represents an appreciation of the breadth of Laver's interests. While the book is meant to be a tribute to John Laver, the topics have been chosen to provide an overview of some key issues in Phonetics, with illuminating contributions from some of the most influential academics in the field. Contributing to this festschrift are William Hardcastle, Janet Mackenzie Beck, Peter Ladefoged, John J. Ohala, F. Gibbon, Anne Cutler, Mirjam Broersma, Helen Fraser, Peter F. MacNeilage, Barbara L. Davis, R. E. Asher, E. L. Keane, G. J. Docherty, P. Foulkes, Janet Fletcher, Catherine Watson, John Local, Ailbhe Ní Chasaide, Christer Gobl, John H. Esling, Jimmy G. Harris, and Francis Nolan.