Introduction To Phonetics & Phonology

1. Explain the nature of language and its components.
2. Distinguish between phonetics and phonology.
3. Describe the process of speech production.
4. Identify and describe the basic sounds of English.
5. Analyze syllable structure and rhythmic patterns.
6. Understand and apply intonation and stress patterns in English.

13 weeks, about 30 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: Introduction and Overview

   • Unit 1: Language: Nature, Origins and Mediums · 2 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)..

2. Week 2Module 1: Introduction and Overview

   • Unit 2: Major Components of Language · 2 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 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..

3. Week 3Module 1: Introduction and Overview

   • Unit 4: Interface between Phonetics and Phonology · 2 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..

4. Week 4Module 2: Phonetics

   • Unit 1: Phonetics and its Branches · 2 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..

5. Week 5Module 2: Phonetics

   • Unit 2: Speech Sounds/Production Processes · 2 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..

6. Week 6Module 2: Phonetics

   • Unit 3: The Basic Sounds of English · 2 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..

7. Week 7Module 3: The Phonology of English

   • Unit 1: Sound Patterning in English: Consonants · 2 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..

8. Week 8Module 3: The Phonology of English

   • Unit 2: Sound Patterning in English: Vowels · 2 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)..

9. Week 9Module 3: The Phonology of English

   • Unit 3: The Phoneme and Allophone · 2 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..

10. Week 10Module 3: The Phonology of English

    • Unit 4: Phonological Processes 1 · 2 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..

11. Week 11Module 3: The Phonology of English

    • Unit 5: Phonological Processes 2 · 2 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..

12. Week 12Module 3: The Phonology of English

    • Unit 6: Minimal Pairs · 2 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..

13. Week 13Module 4: Non-segmental Features

    • Unit 1: Tone/Intonation · 2 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 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..