175-014 Phonetics

Formerly available as 175-210/310. Students who have completed 175-210 or 175-310 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Completion of 175-105 Introduction to Language or 175-106 The Linguistics of English or approval of the coordinator.

This subject involves the study of the sound distinctions occurring in human languages, such as basic articulatory, acoustic and auditory phonetics. Students should develop skills in perceiving, articulating, and transcribing speech sounds. Students should also learn how to interpret sound spectrograms and how acoustic phonetic techniques can be used to supplement traditional phonetic transcription.

• have acquired skill in observation and attention to detail through tutorial and assignment preparation, and examination revision;

• have strengthened their computer literacy through use of IT in acoustic and auditory analyses of spoken language;

• have improved their ability to communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through tutorial preparation and participation and assignment preparation.

Two transcription assignments (the equivalent of 1800 words) 45% (one due mid semester and the other due at the end of the semester), two practical tests (the equivalent of 800 words) 20% (held during the examination period) and a closed-book two-hour examination 35% (during the examination period).

• Ladefoged, A Course in Phonetics. Thomson 2006.