Most of the sound files in chapter 1 are numbered 1-1, 1-3, 1-4 etc.; so there's a minus sign between two numerals. The numbers for the examples in the workbook have a dot in between numerals, e.g. 1.1, 1.2 etc.
Sound file 1-1 is a recording identifying what the sound files are about: "Transcribing English words - Paul Tench - Centre for Language and Communication - Cardiff University", a voice says.
There is no sound file 1-2.
In sound file 1-3, which seems to correspond to example 1.1 in the book, we hear 14 English first names; the book, however lists 18 partly different ones. During the recording the speaker must have banged something against the microphone causing a noise. This is something that seemed to have happened fairly frequently. These bangs could easily have been removed by editing the sound waves before putting them online.
Sound file 1-4 contains the words 'look, loud, lure, letter, coffee". 1-4 and 1.2 do not correspond at all nor does 1-4 and 1.3. Very confusing!
1-5 and 1.2 do correspond, however, as do 1-6 and 1.6. Phew! Let's see if we can construct an equation: when you have 1.120 in the book, add 3, which gives 1-123 for the corresponding recording. Alas, there's no sound file with that number. What you find instead are numbers such as 1.258 and 1-118 (which incidentally corresponds to 1.109 in the book). Whenever I try to open 1.258 with the audio editor audacity, I get a memory allocation error and the program crashes. What a mess! The author and/or the Cambridge people must do something about it.
Until these complaints have been dealt with I cannot maintain my statement that I highly recommend the book. I was obviously too rash.
Petr, you're right. The sound files are a total mess!!! And the quality of most of them is very poor, too!
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