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Phonetics and Phonology (ENG -209): Course Outline(ENG -209)

Phonetics deals with the production of speech sounds by humans, often without prior knowledge of the language being spoken. Phonology is about patterns of sounds, especially different patterns of sounds in different languages

Course description

The course aims to build on the background knowledge of phonological description and theory in order to explain the theories and the principles regulating the use of sounds in spoken language; train students in the skill of transcribing spoken language – particularly English; and examine cross-linguistic similarities and variation in sounds – particularly English and Urdu.   

Course objectives

On successfully completing the course, the students will have knowledge of:

  • Use IPA symbols to describe the sounds of language in both broad and narrow transcriptions.
  • Explain some of the more frequent phonological processes which occur in connected speech.
  • Explain suprasegmental and sound features.
  • Examine cross-linguistic similarities and variations.

 

Teaching-learning Strategies

Teaching will be done through the lecture method with a combination of tasks/projects and presentations

Assessment and Examinations

Assessment will be done as per university/department policy.

Course Contents

 

Unit-I

  • The Description of Speech
    • What are the main features of pronunciation?
    • The Physiology of pronunciation
    • The articulation of phonemes
    • IPA chart of English
    • Phonemic transcription
    • Phonetics and phonology

Unit-II

  • Vowels
    • The characteristics of the ‘pure’ vowel sounds
    • The characteristics of diphthongs
    • Raising awareness of vowel sounds

Unit-III

  • Consonants
  • The characteristics of the consonant sounds
  • Raising awareness of consonant sounds

Unit-IV

  • Word and sentence stress
  • What is word stress?
  • What is unstress?
  • Rules of word stress
  • Levels of stress
  • Sentences: Stress timing and syllable timing
  • Sentence stress and tonic syllables
  • Sentence stress and weak forms
  • Raising awareness of word and sentence stress

Unit-V

  • Intonation
  • What is intonation?
  • Tones, tonic syllables and tone units
  • Grammar and intonation
  • Attitude and intonation
  • Discourse and intonation

Unit-VI

  • Connected Speech
    • Assimilation
    • Elision
    • Linking and intrusion
    • Juncture
    • Contractions

Unit-VII

  • Pronunciation and spelling
    • English spelling is not phonetic
    • Regular features of English pronunciation and spelling
    • Problems and approaches in the teaching of pronunciation and spelling

Unit-VIII

  • Teaching pronunciation
    • Why teach pronunciation?
    • Problems and approaches in pronunciation teaching
    • What pronunciation model to teach
    • Techniques and activities
    • Sample lessons 

Suggested Readings