Students

LING217 – Introductory Phonetics and Phonology

2017 – S1 Day

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
Margaret Wood
Lecturer
Anita Szakay
Lecturer
Titia Benders
Tutor
Linda Buckley
Tutor
Joshua Penney
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
LING110 or LING111 or (admission to GDipSphComm or DipSphComm)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit forms the essential background to all aspects of speech and hearing science, and to all of the speech and hearing-based research projects in the Centre for Language Sciences (CLaS). This unit focuses on key areas in phonetics and phonology. It aims to develop fundamental concepts relating to the articulation of the sounds of the world's languages including vowels and consonants, complex articulations, airstream mechanisms and laryngeal features, and their use in languages. Students are also introduced to the important concepts of phonology through an examination of phonemes and allophones, syllables, word stress and some important aspects of prosody. Concept development is complemented and enhanced by skill based training in phonemic and phonetic transcriptions of spoken English and basic ear training of the International Phonetic Alphabet.

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 phonemic and phonetic transcription tasks
  • demonstrate an understanding of speech articulation
  • classify speech sounds through a thorough understanding of the major characteristics of vowels and consonants
  • show an understanding of the distinction between phonemes and allophones through problems in phonemic analysis
  • show some of the ways that languages and dialects differ in both their phoneme inventories and the pronunciation of their phonemes
  • demonstrate an understanding of the concept of coarticulation
  • illustrate the close relationships between phonetics/phonology and social factors
  • explain the structure of syllables and how phonotactic constraints result in different sets of legal syllables for different languages
  • demonstrate a basic understanding of the phonology of intonation
  • engage in a research rich environmemt

General Assessment Information

It is a requirement of this unit that students make a serious attempt to complete all assessment tasks. Failure to make a serious attempt to complete all assessment tasks may result in failure in the whole unit even if the total marks for completed tasks add up to more than 50%. In such cases, failure results from the learning outcomes of the unit not being met

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Phonemic Transcription 25% No Week 6
IPA Test 10% No Week 8
Phonetic Transcription 25% No Week 13
Exam 35% No Exam Period
Research Participation 5% No By beginning of exam period

Phonemic Transcription

Due: Week 6
Weighting: 25%

Phonemic transcription tasks involving analysis of single words, short phrases and passages using IPA and devised for the phonemic transcription of Australian English.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • successfully use the International Phonetic Alphabet
  • perform phonemic and phonetic transcription tasks
  • show an understanding of the distinction between phonemes and allophones through problems in phonemic analysis
  • explain the structure of syllables and how phonotactic constraints result in different sets of legal syllables for different languages

IPA Test

Due: Week 8
Weighting: 10%

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 phonemic and phonetic transcription tasks
  • demonstrate an understanding of speech articulation
  • classify speech sounds through a thorough understanding of the major characteristics of vowels and consonants

Phonetic Transcription

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 25%

Phonetic/allophonic transcription task involving analysis of single words, short phrases and a passage using the principles of the IPA. This task may be divided into two separate submissions.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • successfully use the International Phonetic Alphabet
  • perform phonemic and phonetic transcription tasks
  • show an understanding of the distinction between phonemes and allophones through problems in phonemic analysis
  • demonstrate an understanding of the concept of coarticulation
  • explain the structure of syllables and how phonotactic constraints result in different sets of legal syllables for different languages

Exam

Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 35%

2 hour exam covering all major topics with the exception of transcription. The exam is in short answer format.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • successfully use the International Phonetic Alphabet
  • demonstrate an understanding of speech articulation
  • classify speech sounds through a thorough understanding of the major characteristics of vowels and consonants
  • show some of the ways that languages and dialects differ in both their phoneme inventories and the pronunciation of their phonemes
  • demonstrate an understanding of the concept of coarticulation
  • illustrate the close relationships between phonetics/phonology and social factors
  • explain the structure of syllables and how phonotactic constraints result in different sets of legal syllables for different languages
  • demonstrate a basic understanding of the phonology of intonation

Research Participation

Due: By beginning of exam period
Weighting: 5%

Research Participation involves participating as a research subject for 5% of the total unit credit. Research tasks that you can participate in are run by various members of the Linguistics, Psychology and Cognitive Science Departments including staff and research students. Research participation typically involves one hour of your time.

 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • engage in a research rich environmemt

Delivery and Resources

The learning and teaching strategies used in this Unit are structured around a textbook, an extensive set of interactive text, image and audio based online materials as well as lectures (including ECHO360 and associated Powerpoint presentations) and tutorial participation.

Text: Cox, F. (2012) Australian English: Pronunciation and Transcription, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne.

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_2016.html

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

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

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://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources 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 phonemic and phonetic transcription tasks

Assessment tasks

  • Phonemic Transcription
  • Phonetic Transcription
  • Exam

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • engage in a research rich environmemt

Assessment task

  • Research Participation

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 phonemic and phonetic transcription tasks
  • demonstrate an understanding of speech articulation
  • classify speech sounds through a thorough understanding of the major characteristics of vowels and consonants
  • show an understanding of the distinction between phonemes and allophones through problems in phonemic analysis
  • show some of the ways that languages and dialects differ in both their phoneme inventories and the pronunciation of their phonemes
  • demonstrate an understanding of the concept of coarticulation
  • illustrate the close relationships between phonetics/phonology and social factors
  • explain the structure of syllables and how phonotactic constraints result in different sets of legal syllables for different languages
  • demonstrate a basic understanding of the phonology of intonation

Assessment tasks

  • Phonemic Transcription
  • IPA Test
  • Phonetic Transcription
  • Exam

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 phonemic and phonetic transcription tasks
  • show an understanding of the distinction between phonemes and allophones through problems in phonemic analysis
  • demonstrate an understanding of the concept of coarticulation
  • illustrate the close relationships between phonetics/phonology and social factors
  • explain the structure of syllables and how phonotactic constraints result in different sets of legal syllables for different languages
  • demonstrate a basic understanding of the phonology of intonation

Assessment tasks

  • Phonemic Transcription
  • IPA Test
  • Phonetic Transcription
  • Exam

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 phonemic and phonetic transcription tasks
  • show an understanding of the distinction between phonemes and allophones through problems in phonemic analysis
  • demonstrate an understanding of the concept of coarticulation

Assessment tasks

  • Phonemic Transcription
  • Phonetic Transcription
  • Exam

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

  • Exam

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment task

  • Research Participation