Academic Year/course:
2023/24
416 - Degree in English
27816 - English Phonetics and Phonology I
Syllabus Information
Academic year:
2023/24
Subject:
27816 - English Phonetics and Phonology I
Faculty / School:
103 - Facultad de Filosofía y Letras
Degree:
416 - Degree in English
ECTS:
6.0
Year:
1
Semester:
Second semester
Subject type:
Compulsory
Module:
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1. General information
The main objective of this course is to complement the study and practice of the English language by providing a more descriptive subject that goes beyond ensuring a certain level of linguistic competence. The course aims to familiarize students with the basic conceptual and methodological tools for studying the pronunciation of contemporary English and increase their knowledge of the phonetics and phonology of the English language with reference to a main accent (General British). These approaches and objectives are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 5, 10, 16, and 17 of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/). Thus, acquiring the learning outcomes of the course provides training and competence to contribute to their achievement.
2. Learning results
To pass this course, students must demonstrate the following outcomes:
- They can define, explain, and provide examples of the characteristics of the phonetic-phonological level of the study of the English language, primarily at the segmental level.
- They can enumerate and describe the phases involved in the production of speech sounds.
- They understand and apply the conceptual and analytical differences between phonetics and phonology.
- They understand the main types of transcription and their applications.
- They can describe and use the General British (GB) pronunciation model: Define its phonological system, describe and classify sounds, identify and reasonably accurately pronounce phonemes, describe and classify graphemes, and write and read aloud phonemic transcriptions of words and, to a lesser extent, allophonic transcriptions of complete texts.
- They can describe, identify, and produce phonemic variations or alterations in spoken language.
- They know how to use and apply computer tools and new technologies related to the study of GB English pronunciation and its teaching and learning for Spanish speakers.
3. Syllabus
PART I, INTRODUCTION: General concepts. Models of pronunciation. Phonemes, allophones and other basic concepts. The process of commutation. Classification of vocalic phonemes. Length as a relative concept. Classification of consonantal phonemes. The Five Rules. Spelling-to-pronunciation relationships, graphemes and continental spellings. Stress-timing: an introduction to the rhythm of English. Weak and Strong Forms. An introduction to lexical stress; stress placement rules; stress shift.
PART II, APPLIED THEORY: Description and practice of the GB vocalic and consonantal phonemes with an emphasis on spelling regularities and irregularities, special difficulties for Spanish-speaking learners (pronunciation and perception), and vowel-/consonant-specific processes and phenomena.
4. Academic activities
The course entails 150 hours of student work, distributed as follows:
Directed activities, consisting of (1) lectures addressing Part I of the course program and training students in tasks related to the learning outcomes, such as definition, description, or classification, and (2) practical classes and group seminars for solving exercises, problems, cases, and phonemic transcriptions related to both parts of the program.
Supervised activities in the form of group and individual tutorials for explanation and follow-up on tasks.
Independent work for the preparation of directed activities.
Assessment: Theoretical-practical exam and assignment.
All activities will be conducted in English.
5. Assessment system
1st Assessment Call: Global evaluation consisting of (1) a theoretical-practical written exam (80% of the final mark) in which the student must perform auditory tasks, phonemic transcription of a text, phoneme definition, derivation of written forms from phonemic transcriptions, phonemic transcription of letters, and short answers to four theory questions, and (2) the completion of an individual written assignment in English (20% of the final mark) of a theoretical-practical nature based on performing the phonemic transcription of a text and solving various applied exercises. The mark from the assignment will only be taken into account if the exam is passed with at least 50% of its score.
2nd Assessment Call: Identical to the 1st Assessment Call.
In both assessment calls, contents and aspects of the phonetics and phonology of the English language (General British) will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Understanding and identification of basic phonetic-phonological concepts and processes.
- Correct use of a theoretical framework and a well-defined and appropriate methodology for phonetic-phonological analysis.
- Phonemic transcription and phonetic-phonological comments presented clearly, precisely, and illustratively.
- Adequate written expression in English at the First Year level.
All exams and assignments will be conducted in English.