Overview

This class is an introduction to the phonetics of spoken languages, covering:
- articulatory phonetics.
- acoustics.
- introductory phonology.

Areas covered include:
- anatomy of the vocal tract and terminology used to describe speech articulators.
- articulatory phonetics, with an emphasis on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and how to use it to transcribe speech.
- an introduction to acoustic theory as it relates to speech sounds.
- the nature of phonological patterns (alternation and phonotactics).
- melody and prosody.
- and the structural representation of speakers’ phonological knowledge.

The knowledge and skills acquired here will be essential for many other modules and/or projects.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D range = Below average ◦Knowledge of key areas/principles only ◦Weaknesses in understanding of main areas ◦Limited evidence of background study ◦Answer only poorly focussed on question and with some irrelevant material and poor structure ◦Arguments presented but lack coherence ◦Several factual/computational errors ◦No original interpretation ◦Only major links between topics are described ◦Limited problem solving ◦Many weaknesses in presentation and accuracy

-good -B range = Good ◦Strong knowledge ◦Understands most but not all ◦Evidence of background study ◦Focussed answer with good structure ◦Arguments presented coherently ◦Mostly free of factual/computational errors ◦Some limited original interpretation ◦Well known links between topics are described ◦Problems addressed by existing methods/approaches ◦Good presentation with accurate communication

-excellent -A range = Excellent ◦Comprehensive knowledge ◦Detailed understanding ◦Extensive background study ◦Highly focussed answer and well structured ◦Logically presented and defended arguments ◦No factual/computational errors ◦Original interpretation ◦New links between topics are developed ◦New approach to a problem

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be familiar with and able to describe the properties of sounds, and understand how these properties affect the way sounds behave.

• Students will develop the ability to recognise and identify different sounds, and to transcribe them using the IPA.

• Students will know about modern phonological theory - how sound systems are structured and how sounds and phonological processes are represented.

• Students will know about the types of phonological processes that languages employ, using examples from varieties of English and other languages.