Phonological Analysis and Typology

Course

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/L_TAMATWS017

Course Objective

Upon successful completion of the course unit, students will be able to: 1. Recognise sounds of the world’s languages and transcribe them using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). 2. Begin to construct an analysis of a language’s phoneme inventory on the basis of an inventory of its phonetic sounds. 3. Analyse spoken language using computer programs like PRAAT and vowel plotting software.

Course Content

This course introduces students to the identification and categorization of speech sounds in the world’s languages. Students learn how to recognise and transcribe them using the International Phonetic Alphabet. Students learn how to analyse a language’s inventory of phonetic sounds to the abstract inventory of phonemes. The course includes a significant practical component, teaching students how to use PRAAT software to analyse speech sounds.

Teaching Methods

Classes: 4 hours a week. Students will need to spend time practising the International Phonetic Alphabet and completing exercises with PRAAT at home.

Method of Assessment

Three assignments using the International Phonetic Alphabet and PRAAT: 60%; the average of these assignments should be 5,5 or higher. Final transcription test: 20%; you need to score a pass grade (5,5 or higher). Final test on phonology: 20%; you need to score a pass grade (5,5 or higher).

Literature

Download PRAAT (https://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/) before the first class. You need to obtain (borrow or buy) the following books before the first class, unless you are able to download them or access them online during class: 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. Burquest, Donald A. 2006. Phonological Analysis, a functional approach. Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Ladefoged, Peter and Ian Maddieson. 1996. The Sounds of the World’s Languages. Oxford: Blackwell. We will probably also read some selected chapters on the typology of sounds from The World Atlas of Language Structures (Oxford, 2005), also available online: http://wals.info/.

Target Audience

Students in the Master's program Linguistics (specialization Language Description and Comparative Linguistics).
Academic year1/09/2431/08/25
Course level6.00 EC

Language of Tuition

  • English

Study type

  • Master