Advanced Topics in Phonetics & Phonology - LAN00013H
Module summary
In this module, students will be introduced to concepts, methods, and conventions for the design and implementation of a research project in Phonetics and Phonology on a topic of their choice within a set theme for the year. The module trains students in academic skills and fosters independent study for every stage in the research process: coming up with a research question, doing bibliographical research, collecting and analysing data with appropriate methods, and writing up the research paper.
Related modules
Additional information
With respect to prerequisites the following modules are equivalent:
Second year modules
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Intermediate Phonetics and Phonology, Acoustic Phonetics and Phonological Analysis
Module will run
Occurrence | Teaching period |
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A | Semester 1 2025-26 |
Module aims
This module aims to support and foster advanced independent research in phonetics and/or phonology, and to train students in professional-level research and presentation skills. Students will be developing a short research project of a topic of their interest closely aligned with the theme set for each academic year.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module students will be able to:
- identify a research question and frame it in the context of relevant literature
- analyse quantitative and qualitative data within a current model of phonetic and/or phonological theory
- present data as evidence in support of a theoretical argument in different forms
- manage your workload on an independent research project.
Module content
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Identifying key literature. Bibliographical research and reference management.
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Designing a project in phonetics and phonology. What it entails and best practice.
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Data collection and ethics.
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Data analysis. Methods and tools in phonetics and phonology.
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Qualitative approaches
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Quantitative approaches: descriptive and inferential statistics; hypothesis testing.
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Writing a scientific paper. Steps and conventions.
Indicative assessment
Task | % of module mark |
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Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
Task | % of module mark |
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Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Feedback on Formative 1 will be provided in written format by Week 5.
Feedback on the Research Proposal will be returned on Week 8. Feedback on the Academic Poster will be given orally and on a feedback form on the day of the presentation. Feedback on the summative assignment will be provided within 25 working days of the submission deadline.
Indicative reading
You will select your own topic of interest which is why there are no recurrent readings. We expect students to undertake some quantitative analysis of phonetic/phonological data, therefore we recommend the following textbook, particularly for those who haven’t used R before or have a limited experience with stats:
- Levshina, N. (2015). How to do linguistics with R: Data exploration and statistical analysis. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
As to methods for the study of Phonetics and Phonology and applied uses, students can consult:
- Di Paolo, M., & Yaeger-Dror, M. (2011). Sociophonetics: A student’s guide. Routledge.
- Knight, R.-A., & Setter, J. (2021). The Cambridge Handbook of Phonetics. Cambridge University Press. https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=dqZOEAAAQBAJ
For the development of their projects, students are invited to find suitable papers in the following sources:
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Journal of Phonetics
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Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA)
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Laboratory Phonology
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Journal of the International Phonetic Association
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English Language and Linguistics
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Language Variation and Change
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Language and Speech
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Journal of English Linguistics
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Interactional Linguistics
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short papers from conferences such as:
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ICPhS (International Congress of the Phonetic Sciences)
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Interspeech
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New Sounds
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