Eng1101 – English Phonetics – 2004 I – Lecture Plan

 

The lectures are on Fridays at 12.15-13, in Auditorium 1, Sophus Bugges hus.

 

Week

Date

Topic(s)

Reading

1

16/1

How speech sounds are produced (articulation);

syllables, vowels and consonants (articulation and distribution); English v- and w-sounds

SI! Ch. 1

2

23/1

Phonemes and phonemic transcription;

English consonant phonemes: inventory & classification;  /T/ and /D/

SI! Ch. 2

3

30/1

English vowel phonemes: inventory, articulation & classification      (GA and RP compared)

English vowel / / vs /à / (RP), vs / Aù/ (GA)

SI!  Ch. 3

4

6/2

English vowels in stressed & unstressed syllables; 

Using weak & strong forms (1): stress         

Weak vowel / « / (‘schwa’)

SI!  Ch. 4

5

13/2

Intonation: tone units, tunes, High Fall & Low Rise;

Using weak & strong forms (2): position in the word-group/tone unit

CEI Units 1 & 2

SI!  5.3

6

20/2

Intonation: stress, accent, nucleus, prehead, head, tail

Using weak & strong forms (3): phonological context

Regular –(e)s and –(e)d suffixes

CEI Unit 3 & 4.1

SI! 6.2-3

7

27/2

Intonation: sentence-type, communicative function,

Low Fall & High Rise, attitudinal meaning

Using weak & strong forms (4): grammatical function & context

CEI 4.2, Unit 5

SI! 7.3 & 8.3

5/3 and 12/3:  NO TEACHING

8

19/3

English consonants: distribution (GA & RP compared; linking and intrusive /r/ in RP, fortis & lenis cons)

SI!  5.1-2, 6.1

9

26/3

English consonants: realization/allophonic variation (fortis & lenis obstruents, voicing and aspiration)

Intonation: Falling head and Fall-Rise nucleus

SI! 7.1-2

CEI 6.1 & 6.3

10

2/4

English consonants: realization/allophonic variation contd

Solving potential pronunciation problems

Intonation: analysing the use & meaning of intonation patterns

SI!  8.1-2

CEI 6.2

11

16/4

English vowels: allophonic variation, solving potential pronunciation problems

Intonation: rising head, low head; distinguishing grammatical structures

SI! 9.1-2

CEI Units 7 & 8

12

23/4

Assimilation & elision   

Intonation: Fall-plus-Rise tune; information structure

SI! 10.1

CEI Unit 9

13

30/4

Revision of use & meaning of intonation patterns

CEI Unit 10

14

7/5

Variable stress etc; Revision

SI! 9.3 & 10.2-3

 

26/5

Exam, 9.00 – 11.00 a.m.

 

 

SI! = B. Bird, Sounds Interesting!

CEI = B. Bird, A Course in English Intonation

 

HILDE HASSELGÅRD

Room D917  Email hilde.hasselgard@iba.uio.no 

Conference hour Tuesdays 13.15-14.00 (or by appointment)


ENG1101 – ENGLISH PHONETICS – 2004 I

TEXTBOOKS

B. Bird, Sounds Interesting! (available from Akademika’s kopiutsalg).

B. Bird, A Course in English Intonation (Received Pronunciation), Universitetsforlaget.  

 

PRONOUNCING DICTIONARIES

In addition to the course books, all students should own a pronouncing dictionary. We recommend

 

D. Jones, English Pronouncing Dictionary (16th ed.) Cambridge: CUP, 2003.

 

(Alternatively: J.C. Wells (ed.), Longman Pronunciation Dictionary Harlow: Longman. 2000)

 

Both of these dictionaries are suitable for use in connection with this course, but we recommend the EPD. (Amongst other things the EPD transcription system representing General American is closer to that used in SI!) Both dictionaries cover both British and American pronunciation.

 

COURSE STRUCTURE

Classes: The classes consist of one lecture and one group per week for 14 weeks (with a two-week break in the middle). The material to be studied each week is specified overleaf.

 

The lectures will present, and as far as possible practise, the material to be covered in each week of the course. It is important that you study this material in connection with each lecture. Further discussion of, and practical work relating to, the material presented in the lectures will be carried out in the groups. There is a separate group for those who wish to concentrate on American English pronunciation (General American). Please prepare the relevant material before attending the group class, so that you can take an active part in the proceedings!

 

A set of exercises, with keys so that you can check your answers yourselves, will be issued at the lectures. These accumulate to form a workbook accompanying the course. It is important that you work through this exercise material as regularly as possible – it will help you to understand the topics and to prepare for the final exam.

 

Pronunciation practice: Your own pronunciation of English will also be focused on during this course. You will be offered a diagnostic test to see if your pronunciation could be improved, and individual advice on how to go about it if necessary. Practice material will include wordlists and reading passages, and your pronunciation will be tested using a wordlist and reading passage. 

 

Recognition practice/dictation: In the exam you will be required to take phonemic dictation (transcribing either Received Pronunciation or General American). Doing phonemic transcription from written texts is useful preparation for taking dictation. Phonemic dictation will be practised in the group classes. You can also work independently from recordings.

 

Required written work: In addition to working with exercises with keys (see above), you are expected to hand in written work each week. The exercises will be corrected and returned. At least two papers must be approved by your group teacher as a prerequisite for taking the exam.

 

Final exam: The grade you receive for this course will be based on a 2-hour written exam. Prerequisites for taking the exam is that you have submitted two accepted papers to your group teacher and passed a pronunciation test. The final exam will include:

·         a short phonemic dictation

·         phonemic transcription of a written text

·         questions on phonology/intonation

·         analysis of intonation patterns.

 

 

Course homepage at http://folk.uio.no/hhasselg/ENG1101.htm