Articulatory phonetics deals with the production, perception, identification and categorization of speech sounds. In this course, we study the sounds of the world’s languages: we learn how to recognize them, produce them, and to transcribe them. We will also study how particular segments and segment types are distributed across the world. Being able to read and write the International Phonetic Alphabet is a useful asset for further linguistic studies in general, but practical knowledge of articulatory phonetics and the distribution of sounds is mandatory if you intend to do primary language data collection in the field.
Teaching method
Tutorial
Admission requirements
BA in linguistics or a particular language; MA/BA in Anthropology or Bible Translation. This course is a co/pre-requisite for the elective Field Methods & Linguistic Analysis.
Course objectives
At the end of this course, students are capable of recognising and producing the sounds of the world accurately, and they can transcribe them using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Students will also be able to read written material in phonetic transcription.
Required readings
Textbook: Bickford, Anita C. and Rick Floyd. 2003 [3rd ed. or any later editions]. Tools for Analyzing the world’s languages: Articulatory Phonetics. Dallas, Texas: SIL International.
Additional reading: Catford, J.C., 2001 [2nd edition]. A practical introduction to Phonetics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (selected chapters)
Typology readings: Selected chapters on the typology of sounds from The World Atlas of Language Structures (Oxford, 2005), also available online: http://wals.info/.
Test method
- Class attentandance and active participation: 10%
- Two transcription tests during the course (each 10%): 20%
- Review excercises I and II (each 10%): 20%
- Typology assignment(s): 10%
- Final transcription test: 40%
Information
Students will need to spend a significant amount of time practicing the sounds individually at home, using various (internet) resources that will be suggested during the course.
Registration
Blackboard
Yes
Overview programme
1, Introduction, sound identification, face diagrams, fricatives, stops
B & F, Ch 1-42, Vowels, nasals, sibilants
B & F, Ch 5, 6, 7, 93, Pitch, tone, stress, rhythm; nasalized vowels, laterals
B & F, Ch 10-134, Transcription test; Typology readings
5, Lenght, voiceless vowels, affricates
B & F, Ch 14-166, Hand in Review excercises I (Ch. 19)
Glottal consonants, central approximants
B & F, Ch 17-187, No class
8, Palatal & uvular consonants, syllabic consonants, prenasalisation, consonant release
B & F, Ch 20-229, Transcription test; Fronting, retroflexion, ejectives;
B & F, Ch 24-2510, Flaps, trills, breathy, creaky, whispered segments; Typology readings
B & F, Ch 26-2811, Implosives, pharyngeal and epiglottal consonants B & F, Ch 28, 30
12, Secondary articulations, consonant and vowel clusters, glides
B & F, Ch 31-3213, Double articulations, tongue root placement, clicks
B & F, Ch 3814, Transcription test; Hand in Review excercises II (Ch. 39) & Typology assignment
B & F, Ch 33, 34, 36