MA Linguistics

This course unit introduces students to foundational concepts and basic analytical skills in phonology and phonetics.  Students will learn about the principles of speech production and perception, how to transcribe a variety of speech sounds, as well as the methods involved in phonological analysis.  

As this course unit is a combination of phonetic and phonological components:

• An understanding of current approaches to studying the production and perception of speech sounds (both articulatory and acoustic aspects); a competency in the description of human language sounds; the ability to accurately recognize and transcribe these sounds
• An introduction to the fundamental theoretical questions and issues in patterns of sounds; an introduction to syllable structure as it relates to other prosodic constituents; an overview of other phonological topics, including distinctive features, autosegmental representations, the interfaces of phonology with phonetics and morphology, and constraint-based phonology (Optimality Theory)

·                     Articulatory phonetics: consonants, vowels, tone, intonation

·                     Introduction to acoustic analysis (soundwaves, formant structures, amplitude)

·                     Lab component: transcription practice, production practice, data set exercises

Lecture, discussion and dataset analysis activities relating to the major themes covered in the   phonology lectures

One Phonetics Tutorial (50 minutes), weekly, as needed
One Phonetics & Phonology Lecture, weekly (2 x 50 minutes consecutively) each week

By the end of this course students will be able to:

Transcribe speech sounds, understand phonological rules and their interrelationships, express awareness of theoretical approaches (Linear & Autosegmental Phonology, Prosodic Phonology, Lexical Phonology, Optimality Theory)

By the end of this course students will be able to:

Learn and apply techniques for data analysis, and critical analysis, create and assess coherent arguments, gain familiarity with speech sounds, their means of production, and the appropriate IPA symbols used to transcribe them

By the end of this course students will be able to:

Gain and use skills in problem solving, resource location (appropriate literature location, procurement & analysis), (transcription) conventions

The ability to undertake successful self-directed study and learning, critical reading skills, appropriate time-management; Students will also gain skills in computer & software use and analysis.

Practical Exam
50 Minutes
25%

One Essay on a Chosen Topic in Phonetics or Phonology
3,000 words
75%

Comments made during class discussion regarding the relevance and coherence of student responses or participation in discussion. (In other words, you should be able to judge from the discussion which ideas are better or worse).

Written comments on the assessed coursework, plus face-to-face discussion if desired (on the understanding that this deanonymizes the marking).

PHONETICS

Ladefoged, Peter & Keith Johnson.  2011.  A Course in Phonetics, 6^th Edition. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth.

Ladefoged, Peter.  2001.  Vowels and Consonants, 2^nd Edition.  Oxford: Blackwell.

Ladefoged, Peter and Ian Maddieson.  1996.  Sounds of the World’s Languages.  Oxford: Blackwell.

PHONOLOGY

Gussenhoven, C., and Jacobs, H. 2005. Understanding Phonology, 2^nd Edition. London: Hodder Arnold.

Kenstowicz, M. 1994. Phonology in Generative Grammar. Oxford: Blackwell.