This course introduces students to the study of speech acoustics. We will look at 1) the acoustic characteristics of vowels, consonants, stress, tone, and voice quality, and 2) how the study of speech can be applied to various areas of inquiry, such as speech perception and production, the learning of new sounds, sociophonetics, and forensic phonetics. Students will get hands-on experience with Praat, a free computer program for the analysis of speech. Prior knowledge of phonetics will be helpful but not obligatory. Students with little background in the study of speech are encouraged to read the recommended introductory textbooks before the course starts.
The articulatory and acoustic properties of various speech ‘components’ (e.g. vowels, consonants, stress, tone, and voice quality), speech perception and production, sociophonetics, second language speech learning, forensic phonetics
On successful completion of the course, students should be able to
1) explain key concepts related to speech acoustics;
2) analyse speech data using Praat;
3) demonstrate an understanding of the key methodological issues involved in phonetic research
A two-hour lecture and a one-hour practical workshop per week
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Attendance and participation (10%)
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Workshop exercises (10%)
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Short written report (20%)
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Mid-term quiz (30%)
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Term essay (30%)
Recommended readings:
- Di Paolo, M., Yaeger-Dror, M., & Wassink, A. (Eds). (2010). Sociophonetics: a student’s guide. London: Routledge.
- Johnson, K. (2011). Acoustic and auditory phonetics. 3rd Edition. Wiley-Blackwell.
Additional readings will be recommended throughout the course.
Recommended readings for students who have little prior knowledge in phonetics:
- Cruttenden, A. (2014). Gimson's pronunciation of English. 8th Edition. Routledge.
- Roach, P. (2009). English phonetics and phonology: a practical course. 4th Edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.