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LING398 – Phonetics: Transcription and Theory

2015 – S1 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Felicity Cox
Contact via felicity.cox@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to GDipSphComm
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit focuses on important theoretical aspects of phonetics and phonology and provides targeted training in the phonemic and phonetic transcription of spoken English and phonological analysis of known and unknown languages. Students learn to use the International Phonetic Alphabet to explore aspects of the world's languages and gain a thorough understanding of the articulation of vowels and consonants as well as complex articulations, airstream mechanisms, and laryngeal features. Phonological principles relating to phonemes and allophones, syllables, and word stress are also addressed.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • successfully use the International Phonetic Alphabet
  • perform sophisticated phonetic and phonemic transcription tasks
  • demonstrate a thorough understanding of speech articulation
  • classify speech sounds using conventions of the IPA
  • demonstrate mastery of phonemic analysis
  • show how languages and dialects differ in both their phoneme inventories and the pronunciation of their phonemes
  • conduct analyses that require an understanding of coarticulation
  • understand what Distinctive Features are and be able to use them in the analysis of phonemes and their pronunciation
  • demonstrate knowledge of the structure of syllables and how phonotactic constraints result in different sets of legal syllables for different languages
  • have a basic understanding of the phonology of intonation

General Assessment Information

It is a requirement of this unit that all assessment tasks be submitted before a passing grade can be assigned.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Articulatory Phonetics 20% Week 7
IPA Test 10% Week 8
Phonetic Transcription 25% Week 12-13
Phonology Assignment 20% Week 11
Phonemic Transcription 25% Weeks 4-6

Articulatory Phonetics

Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%

 

Short answer task with questions ranging from simple descriptive to complex interpretative ansalyses.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • successfully use the International Phonetic Alphabet
  • demonstrate a thorough understanding of speech articulation
  • classify speech sounds using conventions of the IPA
  • show how languages and dialects differ in both their phoneme inventories and the pronunciation of their phonemes

IPA Test

Due: Week 8
Weighting: 10%

 

Online test assessing recognition and representation of sounds of the world’s languages


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • successfully use the International Phonetic Alphabet
  • perform sophisticated phonetic and phonemic transcription tasks
  • demonstrate a thorough understanding of speech articulation
  • classify speech sounds using conventions of the IPA

Phonetic Transcription

Due: Week 12-13
Weighting: 25%

 

Phonetic/allophonic transcription task involving analysis of single words, short phrases and a passage using the principles of the IPA applied to the examination of Australian English.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • successfully use the International Phonetic Alphabet
  • perform sophisticated phonetic and phonemic transcription tasks
  • demonstrate mastery of phonemic analysis
  • conduct analyses that require an understanding of coarticulation
  • demonstrate knowledge of the structure of syllables and how phonotactic constraints result in different sets of legal syllables for different languages

Phonology Assignment

Due: Week 11
Weighting: 20%

 

Students engage with real and artificial language data in problem based tasks designed as both learning and assessment tools.  The language problems require a sophisticated level of understanding of phonetic/phonological theory. Standard phonological reporting techniques and discursive text is required when responding to these problems.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • successfully use the International Phonetic Alphabet
  • demonstrate a thorough understanding of speech articulation
  • classify speech sounds using conventions of the IPA
  • show how languages and dialects differ in both their phoneme inventories and the pronunciation of their phonemes
  • conduct analyses that require an understanding of coarticulation
  • understand what Distinctive Features are and be able to use them in the analysis of phonemes and their pronunciation
  • demonstrate knowledge of the structure of syllables and how phonotactic constraints result in different sets of legal syllables for different languages
  • have a basic understanding of the phonology of intonation

Phonemic Transcription

Due: Weeks 4-6
Weighting: 25%

 

Phonemic transcription tasks involving analysis of single words, short phrases and passages using both the Harrington Cox and Evans revised transcription system and the Mitchell and Delbridge Transcription System.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • successfully use the International Phonetic Alphabet
  • perform sophisticated phonetic and phonemic transcription tasks
  • demonstrate mastery of phonemic analysis
  • demonstrate knowledge of the structure of syllables and how phonotactic constraints result in different sets of legal syllables for different languages

Delivery and Resources

 

The learning and teaching strategies used in this Unit are based around a textbook and an extensive set of interactive text, image and audio based online materials. The unit is delivered via ilearn. ECHO360 lecture recordings (and associated powerpoint presentations) are available to students.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment task

  • Phonemic Transcription

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • successfully use the International Phonetic Alphabet
  • perform sophisticated phonetic and phonemic transcription tasks

Assessment tasks

  • Phonetic Transcription
  • Phonology Assignment
  • Phonemic Transcription

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • successfully use the International Phonetic Alphabet
  • perform sophisticated phonetic and phonemic transcription tasks
  • demonstrate a thorough understanding of speech articulation
  • classify speech sounds using conventions of the IPA
  • demonstrate mastery of phonemic analysis
  • show how languages and dialects differ in both their phoneme inventories and the pronunciation of their phonemes
  • conduct analyses that require an understanding of coarticulation
  • understand what Distinctive Features are and be able to use them in the analysis of phonemes and their pronunciation
  • demonstrate knowledge of the structure of syllables and how phonotactic constraints result in different sets of legal syllables for different languages
  • have a basic understanding of the phonology of intonation

Assessment tasks

  • Articulatory Phonetics
  • IPA Test
  • Phonetic Transcription
  • Phonology Assignment
  • Phonemic Transcription

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • perform sophisticated phonetic and phonemic transcription tasks
  • demonstrate mastery of phonemic analysis
  • conduct analyses that require an understanding of coarticulation
  • understand what Distinctive Features are and be able to use them in the analysis of phonemes and their pronunciation
  • demonstrate knowledge of the structure of syllables and how phonotactic constraints result in different sets of legal syllables for different languages
  • have a basic understanding of the phonology of intonation

Assessment tasks

  • Articulatory Phonetics
  • IPA Test
  • Phonetic Transcription
  • Phonology Assignment
  • Phonemic Transcription

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • perform sophisticated phonetic and phonemic transcription tasks
  • demonstrate mastery of phonemic analysis
  • conduct analyses that require an understanding of coarticulation

Assessment tasks

  • Articulatory Phonetics
  • Phonetic Transcription
  • Phonology Assignment
  • Phonemic Transcription

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment task

  • Phonology Assignment