This intensive course investigates a range of theoretical and practical issues in phonetics, covering both the articulatory and acoustic aspects of segments (vowels and consonants) and prosody (stress, tone, voice quality, etc). Students will learn how to transcribe speech using the International Phonetic Alphabet, and analyse the physics of sound using a free computer program Praat. Along the way, we will explore how knowledge of phonetics can be applied to various areas of inquiry such as speech perception, accent variation and bias, sociophonetics, and second language speech learning across a variety of contexts and cultures. Whilst this course will use Standard Southern British English (aka BBC English/Modern Received Pronunciation) as a reference point, other English varieties/languages will also be discussed whenever appropriate to offer students global and cross-cultural perspectives on the subject.
The nature of speech, vowels, consonants, English accents, stress and syllable, tone, voice quality, sociophonetics, speech perception and learning, phonetic research
On successful completion of the course, students should be able to
1) describe and analyse speech sounds using IPA symbols and Praat
2) understand how knowledge of phonetics can be applied to various areas of inquiry in sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics
3) write a critical review/research proposal on a topic related to phonetics
A two-hour lecture and a 1-hour optional consultation session per week. Students are also expected to complete practical exercises weekly.
· Workshop exercises (10%)
· A short written report (20%)
· Mid-term quiz (30%)
· A term essay (40%)
General readings:
- Ashby, P. (2005). Speech Sounds. 2ndEdition. Routledge.
- Cruttenden, A. (2014). Gimson’s Pronunciation of English. 8thEdition. Routledge.
- Di Paolo, M., Yaeger-Dror, M., & Wassink, A. (Eds). (2010).Sociophonetics: A Student’s Guide. London: Routledge.
- Johnson, K. (2011).Acoustic and Auditory Phonetics. 3rdEdition. Wiley-Blackwell.
- Ogden, R. (2017).Introduction to English Phonetics. Edinburgh University Press.
- Roach, P. (2009). English Phonetics and Phonology: a Practical Course. 4thEdition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Specific readings will be recommended throughout the course.