Phonetics and phonology

Aims

Aims

This module aims:

• to give you practice at using articulatory and acoustic phonetic terminology in describing English and other languages
• to acquaint you with the International Phonetic Alphabet and the principles of its use
• to introduce you to some simple notational devices for the phonological analysis of speech
• to prepare you for further modules in phonetics and phonology

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

The course is taught for three hours a week. Each week, there will be a two-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar.

Teaching programme

The course will cover the basics of phonetics and phonology, referring a wide range of different languages.

For the seminars you will be expected to prepare by reading and/or conducting analysis of data. The seminars will allow you to explore some of the issues raised in the lecture in more depth.

Some of the topics to be covered are:

• the symbols of the International Phonetics Alphabet and the sounds they stand for;
• phonetic transcription;
• training in hearing and producing sounds;
• units of phonological contrast;phonological representation;
• distinctive features;
• the formal description of phonological patterns.

Outcomes should include:

• familiarity with basic phonetics and phonological structures;
• ability to make phonetic observations with reference to auditory and simple acoustic analysis;
• ability to make simple transcriptions using the International Phonetic Alphabet;
• ability to represent simple phonological structures and use these to explain some aspects of phonetic detail.

Teaching materials

You should buy:

• Ladefoged, Peter (2001). A Course in Phonetics. 4th Edition. Fort Worth, Harcourt.

A recommended reading list will be provided.

Assessment

Assessment

Formative work

• a dossier of exercises

Assessment

• a dossier of exercises