Introductory description

This module expands on concepts introduced during ET118: Linguistics: Understanding Language in order to provide core knowledge and skills for students in phonetics and phonology as essential fields of language study. It aims to:
-Familiarise students with the phonetic and phonological systems of the world’s languages.
-Introduce methodologies from a range of linguistic disciplines to document, study, and analyse language data.
-Engage students in linguistic analysis within a language and cross-linguistically, both synchronically and diachronically.
-Introduce research about and approaches to subfields of linguistics.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Week 1: Review of phonetic and phonological analysis
Week 2: Measurement techniques
Week 3: Pitch
Weeks 4-5: Vowels
Week 6: Reading week
Week 7-8: Consonants
Week 9: Sound change
Week 10: Practicum

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Describe phonetic and phonological patterns of the languages of the world.
• Label phonetic and phonological features of languages with disciplinary terminology.
• Analyse raw linguistic data to determine features of a language or dialect.
• Categorize changes in languages and dialects resulting from language internal and external factors.
• Identify physiological structures and psychological factors relevant to language production, perception, and interpretation.
• Propose appropriate methodologies to document and study language.
• Discuss core theories, findings, and approaches from a range of linguistic disciplines.

Indicative reading list

Kennedy, R. (2017). Phonology: A coursebook. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Labov, W. (1994). Principles of language change, vol. 1, Internal factors. Oxford: Blackwell.
Ladefoged, P. & Disner, S.F. (2012). Vowels and consonants (3rd edn). Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Ladefoged, P., & Maddieson, I. (2008). The sounds of the world’s languages (2nd edn). Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

-Students complete an independently designed and directed small-scale research project.
-Students work from real-world linguistic datasets compiled from ongoing research.

Interdisciplinary

-Students practice foundational linguistic analysis skills that transfer to branches of psychology, cognitive science, speech pathology, language teaching and learning, literacy studies, and computational language processing and production.

International

-Students engage with datasets drawn from a range of languages, increasing cross-linguistic exposure and providing pathways to multilingualism.

Subject specific skills

1. Describe phonetic and phonological patterns of the languages of the world.

2. Identify physiological structures and psychological factors relevant to language acquisition, production, perception, and interpretation.

Transferable skills

1. Analyse raw linguistic data to determine features of a language or dialect.

2. Categorize changes in languages and dialects resulting from language internal and external factors.

3. Write research-based work in a clear, informative, and structured way.

4. Communicate clearly in oral presentation and academic discussion.

5. Propose appropriate methodologies to document and study language.

6. Label phonetic and phonological features of languages with disciplinary terminology.

7. Discuss core theories, findings, and approaches from a range of linguistic disciplines.