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Articulatory & Impressionistic Phonetics - LAN00016H

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  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Dominic Watt
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2019-20
    • See module specification for other years: 2018-19

Module summary

Articulatory & Impressionistic Phonetics is a very practical module which gives students skills in the production and perception of the sounds on the IPA chart. A short series of lectures, and seminar slots, provide theoretical background. There are weekly sessions focusing on ear training (producing and transcribing sounds), and in the second half of the spring term we work on a language we don't know. (Recent languages include Faroese, Hungarian and Lithuanian.) The summer term focuses on critical thinking and writing skills, and practice for the oral and aural (listening) exams.

Related modules

Pre-requisite modules

Co-requisite modules

  • None

Prohibited combinations

  • None

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching cycle
A Spring Term 2019-20 to Summer Term 2019-20

Module aims

  • To give students a thorough training in the skills of articulatory and impressionistic phonetics
  • To teach production and perception of the sounds of the IPA chart
  • To develop an understanding of the problems and principles in phonetic description and classification

Module learning outcomes

  • Students will understand the principles of phonetic classification
  • Students should be able to produce and perceive the sounds of the IPA chart, and apply that knowledge to speech data
  • Students should be able to reason using the resources of phonetic theory
  • Students should develop their skills of writing, presentation and argumentation appropriate to the norms of the discipline

Module content

There are lectures in Sp2-5, and language classes Sp 7-10.

Ear training is weekly, alongside discussions about phonetic issues.

In Su1-4 we focus on essay writing, and ear training classes continue providing support for the oral and aural exams.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Project		 N/A 70
Online Exam
Articulatory & Impressionistic Phonetics		 N/A 15
Online Exam
Articulatory & Impressionistic Phonetics		 N/A 15

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Project		 N/A 70
Online Exam
Articulatory & Impressionistic Phonetics		 N/A 15
Online Exam
Articulatory & Impressionistic Phonetics		 N/A 15

Module feedback

Feedback on formative work

Ear Training (Phonetic production and perception): immediate oral feedback on individual productions; group feedback following phonetic dictation tasks

Seminar exercises: immediate oral group feedback

There will be three short written pieces of work during the term, with feedback given within two weeks of submission of each

Assessment and feedback

Essay

Feedback: Marks for the whole module.

Indicative reading

Laver, J (1994) Principles of Phonetics (Cambridge: CUP)

Ladefoged, P and Maddieson, I (1996) The Sounds of the World's Languages (Oxford: Blackwell)

Suggestions for reading before the module starts

International Phonetic Association. 1999. The Handbook of the IPA.

In particular, make sure you understand how the IPA can be used, and familiarise yourself with a couple of languages other than English. This will be a very good grounding for the work of the module.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): changes to courses

The 2020/21 academic year will start in September. We aim to deliver as much face-to-face teaching as we can, supported by high quality online alternatives where we must.

Find details of the measures we're planning to protect our community.

Course changes for new students