English Phonetics and Phonology

 

University of Mazandaran

Department of English Language 

English Phonetics and Phonology 

Introduction:

   Phonetics and phonology are regarded as sub branches of linguistics. Phonetics is the scientific study of human speech sounds, and phonology is defined as the study of the sound patterns and systems of human languages.

 

Objectives:

   The main purpose of the course is to give students language awareness about how speech sounds are formed and produced. It also intends to help students improve their pronunciation by giving them information on English syllable structure, stress patterns and intonation patterns.

 

Materials:

   This course provides students with some information on the following issues:

Fundamental concepts of phonetics and phonology

Branches of phonetics with emphasis on articulatory phonetics

Various parts of human speech organ/ vocal tract

Description and classification of English consonants

Description and classification of English vowels

Syllable structures and phonotactics

Stress patterns

Intonation patterns

Pronunciation differences between British and American English

Teaching the pronunciation of English sounds.

 

Presentation: 

   Materials will be presented in details by the instructor of the course in the form of lectures in each session, but students are expected to study the related chapters beforehand to be able to answer the questions raised by the instructor and participate in the discussion at the beginning of each class. Students are allowed to raise their own questions before, during, or after the lecture. They are also required to do the exercises of the book for the following session. All students are supposed to be punctual and attend the class regularly.

 

Evaluation: 

- Class participation, regular presence, and punctuality: 3 points

- Mid-term exam: 4 points

- Final exam: 13 points

                      _____________

                      Total: 20 points

 

Course book:  

A Practical Course of English Phonetics and Phonology

                               By: Dr. Mohammad Hossein Keshavarz (SAMT Publication) 

 

Additional sources:

- Akmajian, A, Demers, R.A, Farmer, A. K, and R. M. Harnish. 1997.  Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication. (4^th ed.) . Massachusetts: MIT Press. Chapters 3 and 4. 

- Baker, A. 1992. Ship or Sheep? An Intermediate Pronunciation Course. Cambridge:      Cambridge University Press. 

- Falk, J. S. 1978. Linguistics and Language.(2^nd ed.). New York: John Wiley and Sons. Chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10. 

- Fromkin, V. and R. Rodman. 1988. An Introduction to Language.(4^th ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston Inc. Chapters 2 and 3. 

- Ladefoged, P. 1975. A Course in Phonetics. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc. 

- Roach, P. 1983.English Phonetics and Phonology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

- Yarmohammadi, L. and Gh. Pouretedal. 1998. A Course in English Pronunciation: A Generative Framework. .(2^nd ed.). Tehran: SAMT. 

- Yule, G. 2006.The Study of Language. (3^rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Chapters 4 and 5. 

  

                                                                              Good Luck                      Bashirnezhad