Students
LING3390 – Phonological Analysis
2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor & Lecturer
Anita Szakay
UG Course Director
Felicity Cox
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
50cp at 2000 level or above including (LING2217 or LING217)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Phonology is the study of sound patterns in language - which sounds are used by different languages, how they are organized, and how sounds are represented in the mind. In this unit we will examine phonological theory, phonological organisation of speech, acquisition of phonology and issues relevant to phonological disorders. Topics to be addressed include: variation in sound structure between languages (e.g., English and Indigenous Australian languages), the phonology of tone languages (such as Chinese), sound change, and prosody (stress and rhythm in language), and morphophonology. Our focus will be on phonological data analysis (i.e. logic puzzle solving) using two approaches: Rule-Based Phonology and Optimality Theory. |
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:
- ULO1: Communicate an understanding of fundamental phonological concepts including feature, phoneme, syllable, gesture, rule, constraint, underlying representation and surface form.
- ULO2: Explain and illustrate phonological processes, and their role in shaping language sounds.
- ULO3: Analyse the phonological structure of a language from example data.
- ULO4: Analyse phonological phenomena, and explain how they can be described under different phonological frameworks.
General Assessment Information
Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.
All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.
Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128).
To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.
Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.
Late Submissions
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.
For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problems in Features, Natural Classes and Rules | 30% | No | Week 7 |
| Problems in Morphophonology and Prosody | 30% | No | Week 12 |
| Final Exam | 40% | No | Exam Period |
Problems in Features, Natural Classes and Rules
Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 30%
In a series of short answer responses, students will account for phonological phenomena in the dataset(s) provided. The Problems in Features, Natural classes, and Rules assignment will provide an opportunity to demonstrate insights into the sound structure of the language(s) being analysed, an understanding of phonological theory, and its application to the data.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Communicate an understanding of fundamental phonological concepts including feature, phoneme, syllable, gesture, rule, constraint, underlying representation and surface form.
- Explain and illustrate phonological processes, and their role in shaping language sounds.
- Analyse the phonological structure of a language from example data.
- Analyse phonological phenomena, and explain how they can be described under different phonological frameworks.
Problems in Morphophonology and Prosody
Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 30%
In a series of short answer responses, students will account for phonological phenomena in the dataset(s) provided. Problems in Morphophonology and Prosody will assess the topics of Morphophonology and Rule Ordering and Syllable, Prosody, and Stress. The assessment will provide an opportunity to demonstrate insights into the relationship between morphology and phonology, aspects of rule ordering, and prosody.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Communicate an understanding of fundamental phonological concepts including feature, phoneme, syllable, gesture, rule, constraint, underlying representation and surface form.
- Explain and illustrate phonological processes, and their role in shaping language sounds.
- Analyse the phonological structure of a language from example data.
- Analyse phonological phenomena, and explain how they can be described under different phonological frameworks.
Final Exam
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 40%
In a series of short answers and extended responses, students will demonstrate all aspects of their understanding of phonological concepts and data analysis.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Communicate an understanding of fundamental phonological concepts including feature, phoneme, syllable, gesture, rule, constraint, underlying representation and surface form.
- Explain and illustrate phonological processes, and their role in shaping language sounds.
- Analyse the phonological structure of a language from example data.
- Analyse phonological phenomena, and explain how they can be described under different phonological frameworks.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of face-to-face learning activities, including lectures, tutorials, readings, quizzes. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.
Technologies used and required
Word processing and conversion to pdf file format is needed for completing both Problem Sets One and Two; internet access is needed for downloading lecture and tutorial materials and for uploading assignments. Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.
Required textbook:
- Hayes (2011). Introductory Phonology. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
Secondary (recommended) textbooks:
- Gussenhoven & Jacobs (2013). Understanding Phonology (3rd ed). Taylor & Francis Group.
- Gussenhoven & Jacobs (2017). Understanding Phonology (4th ed). Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY: Routledge.
- Kennedy (2017). Phonology: A Coursebook. Cambridge University Press.
- Kager (1999). Optimality Theory. Utrecht, The Netherlands: Cambridge University Press.
- Zsiga (2013). The Sounds of Language: an introduction to phonetics and phonology. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell
Unit Schedule
- W1 - Introduction & Refresher
- W2 - Distinctive Features & Natural Classes I.
- W3 - DistinctiveFeatures & Natural Classes II.
- W4 - Phonological Rules
- W5 - Introduction to Morphophonology
- W6 - Morphophonology & Rule Ordering I.
- W7 - Morphophonology & Rule Ordering II.
- W8 - Syllables & Feet
- W9 - Stress Rules
- W10 - Stress Systems
- W11 - Optimality Theory I.
- W12 - Optimality Theory II.
- W13 - Exam Revision
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
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Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
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Unit information based on version 2025.02 of the Handbook