Intermediate phonetics and phonology

Aims

Aims

In this module, you will develop your skills in the phonetic and phonological analysis of language.

The phonetics part of the course will cover:

• The basics of articulatory and impressionistic phonetics
• The basics of the acoustic analysis of speech

The phonology part of the course will cover:

• The position of phonology within the human linguistic system
• Some recurrent phenomena in the phonology of the world's languages
• Some commonly used phonological notation

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed:

• L09C Introduction to phonetics and phonology (LAN00009C)

Information for visiting students: The teaching of this module assumes that students already have basic knowledge of phonetics/phonology, including the ability to read IPA symbols, to describe place and manner of articulation, to produce simple phonetic descriptions and broad phonetic transcriptions of short stretches of speech, and to provide appropriate structural descriptions of syllables using appropriate phonological notation. Please contact the module convenor if you are in any doubt about whether you have an appropriate background for this module.

Programme

Programme

The teaching programme may be revised for 2016-17.

Contact hours

Two hours per week, including 1-hour lecture and 1-hour practical/seminar over 12 weeks.

Teaching programme

The module is taught through lectures/practicals, in three 4-week blocks:

• A: Introduction to acoustic phonetics
• B: Data driven skills in phonological analysis
• C: Case studies in current phonetics/phonology

Teaching materials

Exact teaching materials may change, but readings are very likely be set from the following:

• Hayward, Katrina. (2000). Experimental phonetics. Longman.
• *Nathan, G. (2008). Phonology: a cognitive grammar introduction. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
• *Zsiga, E. C. (2013) The sounds of language: an introduction to phonetics and phonology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

*Nathan (2008) and Zsiga (2013) are available as ebooks via the library.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on formative work

Formative mini tasks

• A series of review tasks and short reports to be completed throughout spring term, approximately every two weeks.
• Feedback will be a combination of automatic feedback provided by the VLE and oral feedback given in following lecture. Model answers will also be made available via the VLE.

Summative assessment and feedback

• Portfolio of phonetics data exercises due in Week 7, Spring Term
  • Weight: 30%
  • You will receive individual written feedback as well as whole class feedback within 3 weeks.
• Portfolio of phonology data exercises due in Week 10, Spring Term
  • Weight: 30%
  • You will receive individual written feedback as well as whole class feedback within 4 weeks.
• Research essay due Summer Term, Week 5
  • Length: 1500 words
  • Weight: 40%
  • Class feedback to be posted on VLE and students will have the opportunity to view scripts after marking.