LING 521
Phonology
Spring 2016
Class Meetings: M/W 2:00-3:15, ARTN, 300B Schedule
#: 21922
Prerequisites: LING 420 or LING 501
Course Description:
This course explores theoretical principles of transformational-generative phonology.
We will begin by studying the human vocal tract, and how this vocal tract shapes the
type of speech sounds heard in spoken languages. Students will listen to speech
samples from multiple languages and practice transcribing them using the International
Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Speech analysis tools, such as Praat Speech Analysis
Software, will be introduced at a basic level to aide in the transcription process.
The second half of the course builds on the phonetic-related skills acquired during the first
half of the semester in order to explore theoretical principles of transformational
generative phonology. Students will transcribe language samples using the IPA, propose
an underlying and surface form for each sample, and then analyze each speech sample
using two theories of Phonology, Sound Patterns of English (SPE) and Optimality Theory
(OT).
Professor Contact:
Professor:
Kimberly Hilanto
Email:
khilanto@gmail.com
Office hours: M 1:00-2:00, SHW-204, or by appointment
Learning Outcomes:
Students will
(1) transcribe speech samples in a multitude of languages into the IPA
(2) label segments, pitch, intensity and formants in waveforms and spectographs
(3) identify active and passive speech organs used to articulate speech sounds
(4) justify proposed underlying and surface forms for speech samples
(5) identify and label phonological processes from speech samples
(6) analyze speech samples using two theories of linguistics: SPE and OT
(7) predict possible language sound systems using SPE and OT
(8) critique phonological theories based off of the predictions they make about
languages
Course Activities:
Date
1/20
Day
W
Course Topic/Activity
Reading to be done before class:
Introduction to Phonology 521
Student Information Sheet assigned
1/25
M
The vocal tract/palatography
Transcription 1 assigned
1/27
W
Quiz 1: Speech Articulators
Textbook reading: pgs. 14-29
International Phonetic Alphabet
Transcription 2 assigned
(textbook pg 30 #7 and 8 sound
file for #7 is on BB labeled as Transcription 2)
2/1
M
English sounds
2/3
W
Pulmonic sounds
2/8
M
Pulmonic sounds
Transcription 3 assigned
2/10
W
Quiz 2: IPA
Non-pulmonic sounds
Textbook reading: pgs. 1-12
Ladefoged reading: BB
Textbook reading: pgs. 34-45
Textbook reading: pgs. 45-47
2/15
M
Non-pulmonic sounds
Transcription 4 assigned
2/17
W
Vowel Inventories
Textbook reading: pgs. 56-70
Plotting a vowel chart (Transcription 5) assigned
2/22
M
Vowel Inventories
2/24
W
Meetings for Transcription 5
2/29
M
Transcription 6 assigned
3/2
W
Stress and Tone
Transcription 7 assigned
3/7
M
Quiz 3: Sound waves and spectograms
Fast Speech Transcriptions
Transcription Project Assigned
3/9
W
Transcription Questions
3/14
M
Project Presentations
3/16
W
Sapir reading: BB
Psychological Reality of the
Phoneme
BB worksheet (Phon 1) Assigned
3/21
M
What is phonology
3/23
W
What is phonology
Textbook 217 # 7-11 (Phon 2) Assigned
3/28
M
No Class- Spring Break
3/30
W
No Class- Spring Break
4/4
M
Phonological processes
Textbook reading Chapter 11
Textbook 247 #5 (Phon 3) Assigned
4/6
W
Phonological processes
4/11
M
Transcription and phonology
Chaldean-English transcription (Phon 4)
4/13
W
Distinctive Features
Textbook reading Chapter 12
Textbook 272 #6-10 (Phon 5) Assigned
4/18
M
Distinctive Features
4/20
W
Goals of linguistic theory
Kager reading on BB
Japanese transcription (Phon 6) Assigned
4/25
M
Rule versus Constraint Based
theories of phonology
4/27
W
Quiz 4: Operations of theory
Optimality Theory
Textbook reading Chapter 14
Textbook 325 #9-13 (Phon 7) Assigned
Textbook reading Chapter 10
5/2
M
Optimality Theory
5/4
W
Final Project Questions
Final Project Due Monday, May 9th by 3pm.
Assessment and grading:
●
●
●
●
●
7 transcription exercises: 24% (the lowest transcription will be dropped)
Transcription project: 20%
7 phonology exercises: 28%
Final project: 20%
4 quizzes: 8%
Assignments are to be turned in via Google Docs unless otherwise stated. Group transcription
assignments are done in class, and only one assignment is turned in per group. If you are not
present in class on the day of the group transcription, you will be given a 0 for that
assignment.
Overview of media and software:
Blackboard will be used to post the syllabus, worksheets, extra readings, and sound files for
transcriptions. All readings not assigned in the textbook will be posted to blackboard (BB) under
“course documents.” Sound files and transcription worksheets are under “assignments.”
Google Docs is the medium used for turning in assignments. To do this, you will need to upload
your assignments to google docs and share them with me (khilanto@gmail.com). Feedback to
each assignment will be on google docs.
A personal computer is not required for taking this course; however, if you have one, you may
find it helpful to install the following software onto your computer:
● IPA console: http://languagelink.let.uu.nl/tds/ipa/
● Pratt Speech Analysis Software: http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/
● Charis SIL and Doulos SIL (the links are on the Praat installation webpage)
Required materials and resources:
The Sounds of Language: An Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology by Elizabeth Zsiga
This book can be purchased or rented in three different forms:
● ebook
● kindle
● hard copy
Academic integrity:
According to San Diego State University policy,
“Institutions of higher education are founded to impart knowledge, seek truth, and encourage one's
development for the good of society. University students shall thus be intellectually and morally obliged to
pursue their course of studies with honesty and integrity. Therefore, in preparing and submitting materials for
academic courses and in taking examinations, a student shall not yield to cheating or plagiarism, which not
only violate academic standards but also make the offender liable to penalties explicit in Section 41301 of
Title 5,California Code of Regulations (SDSU Student Handbook, 2012).”
Please be aware that in phonology and phonetics, academic integrity includes:
● Honest reporting of data collection: No fabrication!
● Reporting the sources of data, including online and unpublished data
● Not allowing others to present your work as their own
Students with disabilities:
If you feel you have a disability that will require special accomodations for you during this
course, please contact Student Disability Services:
http://go.sdsu.edu/student_affairs/sds/Default.aspx. Accommodations will be made only
to those who have arranged for them with SDS.