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ENG241Arts3 Unitsintermediate

Introduction To Phonetics & Phonology

This course introduces second-year undergraduates to the systematic study of language, basic sound production, and English language sounds. It explores speech production, description, and non-segmental features like tone, intonation, stress, syllable structure, and rhythm. The course covers language nature, phonetics, phonology, speech production, and sound patterning, aiming to enhance students' understanding of English phonetics and phonology.

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40h

Study Time

13

Weeks

3h

Per Week

none

Math Level

Course Keywords

PhoneticsPhonologySpeech SoundsIntonationSyllable Structure

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level

Builds on foundational knowledge

65%

intermediate

📚

Math Level

No Math

🔬

Learning Type

Hands-on Practice

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Nature of Language

2

Components of Language

3

Phonetics and Phonology

4

Speech Production

5

English Consonants and Vowels

6

Syllable Structure

7

Intonation and Tone

8

Rhythmic Patterns

Total Topics8 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

English Teacher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Linguist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Speech Therapist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Voice Coach

Apply your skills in this growing field

Accent Reduction Specialist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

EducationLinguisticsSpeech PathologyBroadcastingCall Centers

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week

1

Module 1: Introduction and Overview

2h

Unit 1: Language: Nature, Origins and Mediums

2 study hours

•Understand the nature of language as a communication tool.
•Explore speculations about the origin of language.
•Differentiate between natural and artificial languages.
•Identify and analyze different language mediums (aural, visual, tactile).

Week

2

Module 1: Introduction and Overview

4h

Unit 2: Major Components of Language

2 study hours

•Identify and describe the major components of language (phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics).
•Distinguish between speech sounds and letters of the alphabet.
•Differentiate between spoken and written language, considering their unique features.
•Analyze the relationship and overlaps between speech and writing.

Unit 3: Defining Phonetics and Phonology

2 study hours

•Define phonetics and phonology as distinct fields of linguistic study.
•Explain the relationship and differences between phonetics and phonology.
•Identify and describe the different branches of phonetics (acoustic, articulatory, auditory).
•Explain the functions of phonetics and phonology in natural language.

Week

3

Module 1: Introduction and Overview

2h

Unit 4: Interface between Phonetics and Phonology

2 study hours

•Explore the interface between phonetics and phonology in language study.
•Understand how phonetics provides the foundation for phonological analysis.
•Examine the relationship between phonetics and phonology in language development.
•Analyze the role of phonetics and phonology in creating writing systems and orthographies.

Week

4

Module 2: Phonetics

2h

Unit 1: Phonetics and its Branches

2 study hours

•Understand the meaning and procedure for studying phonetics.
•Identify and describe the different branches of phonetics (articulatory, auditory, acoustic).
•Explain how the branches of phonetics relate to each other.
•Perform basic phonetic analysis.

Week

5

Module 2: Phonetics

2h

Unit 2: Speech Sounds/Production Processes

2 study hours

•Explain the nature of speech sounds and their production.
•Isolate the focus of speech production: the vocal organs and their movements.
•Explain the main processes of speech production: respiration, phonation, and articulation.
•Discuss the articulation of sounds in natural languages, including the roles of active and passive articulators.

Week

6

Module 2: Phonetics

2h

Unit 3: The Basic Sounds of English

2 study hours

•Explain the term 'basic sounds' in the context of phonetics.
•Identify the full range of basic sounds in English (vowels and consonants).
•Explain the key matters involved in describing speech sounds.
•Carry out a formal description of the consonant and vowel sounds of English.

Week

7

Module 3: The Phonology of English

2h

Unit 1: Sound Patterning in English: Consonants

2 study hours

•Identify the consonant sounds of English.
•Describe the production process of English consonants.
•Categorize consonant sounds according to the state of the glottis and vocal folds.
•Group consonants by manner and place of articulation.

Week

8

Module 3: The Phonology of English

2h

Unit 2: Sound Patterning in English: Vowels

2 study hours

•Separate vowels from the standpoint of their relative duration.
•Identify vowels according to the part of the tongue raised (front, central, back).
•Organize vowels according to the extent of tongue raising (close, half-close, half-open, open).
•Identify vowels based on lip posture (rounded, unrounded).

Week

9

Module 3: The Phonology of English

2h

Unit 3: The Phoneme and Allophone

2 study hours

•Explain the terms 'phoneme' and 'allophone' in phonology.
•Show the relationship between phonemes and allophones.
•Illustrate how one symbol can be used to indicate both a phoneme and its allophones.
•Construct minimal pairs to identify phonemes.

Week

10

Module 3: The Phonology of English

2h

Unit 4: Phonological Processes 1

2 study hours

•Explain the coverage of phonology, including segmental and nonsegmental aspects.
•Distinguish between phonological system and structure.
•Discuss key issues in phonological structure, such as complementary distribution and free variation.
•Analyze sounds in complementary distribution and free variation.

Week

11

Module 3: The Phonology of English

2h

Unit 5: Phonological Processes 2

2 study hours

•Differentiate sound changes that occur within words.
•State the causes of phonological changes.
•Identify the relationship between sounds in a sequence.
•Differentiate various phonological processes (assimilation, nasalization, dissimilation, etc.).
•Discuss how phonological processes function in languages.

Week

12

Module 3: The Phonology of English

2h

Unit 6: Minimal Pairs

2 study hours

•Discuss the nature of minimal pairs in phonology.
•Identify types of minimal pairs (segmental, suprasegmental).
•State the phonetic basis for establishing minimal pairs.
•Discuss the different aspects of phonetics that contribute to establishing minimal pair types.
•Give examples of segmental and suprasegmental minimal pairs.

Week

13

Module 4: Non-segmental Features

4h

Unit 1: Tone/Intonation

2 study hours

•Explain variations of pitch in natural languages.
•Distinguish between tone and intonation.
•Describe types of intonation patterns (falling, rising, fall-rise, rise-fall).
•Express the functions of intonation in English.
•Practice producing intonation patterns.

Unit 2: Defining the Syllable

2 study hours

•Understand the concept of the syllable and its theoretical definitions.
•Know the different types of syllables and their structure.
•Learn how to determine syllable boundaries and syllable weight.
•Apply the onset first principle to syllabification.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review all unit objectives and ensure you can meet each one.

2

Practice phonetic transcription of English words and sentences.

3

Create flashcards for key terms and definitions in phonetics and phonology.

4

Analyze recordings of spoken English to identify intonation and stress patterns.

5

Focus on understanding the differences between phonemes and allophones, and be able to provide examples.

6

Practice identifying syllable boundaries and stress placement in multisyllabic words.

7

Review the organs of speech and their roles in sound production.

8

Create concept maps linking units on phonetics, phonology, and non-segmental features.

9

Practice exercises on identifying minimal pairs to distinguish phonemes.

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