Philadelphia University
Faculty of Arts
Department of English
First Semester, 2013/2014
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Module Syllabus
Module Name: Phonetics
Module Number: 130102
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisite / Co-Requisite:
Lecturer (Name, Academic Rank): Dr. Kadhim Al- Rifaee
Rank: Assistant Prof.
Office Number: 405
Phone: + 962-64799000
Ext: 2644
E-mail: kad72@hotmail.com.
Course Description:
This course deals with the articulatory phonetics. It is mainly concerned with the physical
production of consonant and vowel phonemes of English.It concentrates on the place and manner of
articulation of each phoneme. Italso focuses on the rules of stress and intonation.It also tackles
other areas such as dihthongs, triphthongs,assimilation and the structure of the syllable.Phonemic
and phonetic transcription are also emphasized.
Aims (Course Purpose/Objectives):
The course aims to introduce the students to the general principles of articulatory phonetics and the
study of the sound system in English. It also aims at improving the student’s ability in the
pronunciation of English and training them to use the International Phonetic Alphabet in Phonetic
transcription.
Teaching Methods:( Lectures ,Discussion Groups, Tutorials Problem Solving Debates…etc)
The material will be presented through lectures, handouts, and assignments of different exercises on
a daily basis.
Course/ Components:
1. Books (title ,anther(s),publisher, year of publication)
Better English Pronunciation : J.D.O’Connor, Cambridge University Press,latest
edition.
A Course in Phonetics: Peter Ladefoged, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich,Inc. latest
edition.
2. Support Material(s): a/v materials
Cassettes & cassette recorder
3. Supplementary Readings (Book, Periodicals….. etc)
Students should visit the library and the internet
4. Study Guide(s) (if available)
5. Homework and Laboratory Guide(s) (if applicable):
The students will be taken to the English Language lab to listen to some native speakers
recordings whenever necessary.
Contribution to Program Learning Outcomes:
Students should do the exercise available
Intended Learning Outcomes: (Knowledge and Understanding, Cognitive Skills, Communication
Skills, Transferable skills).
a. Knowledge & Understanding:
The students will be able to recognize and produce correctly all the sounds of English. The notions
of phoneme, phonetic transcription, stress and intonation will also be introduced
b. Cognitive Skills (Thinking & Analysis):
The students will be able to distinguish consonants, vowels, diphthongs, triphthongs. They will be
able to read and write phonetic transcription.
c. Communicative Skills (Personal and Academic)
The students will be trained to pronounce words correctly and write the phonetic transcription of
these words.
d. Practical and Subject Specific Skills (Transferable Skills)
The students will be trained to pronounce words correctly and write the phonetic transcription of
these words.
Assessment Instruments
Modes of Assessment
Score
First Exam
Second Exam
Assignment / Seminar / Project / Quizzes / Tutorial ,Reports,
Research Projects, Presentations
Final Exam
Total
Date
20
20
20
Week 6
Week 12
40
100
Week 16
Module Outline:
Week
Date
(1)
October 6-10, 2013
(2)
October 20-24, 2013
Subject
1. What is 'Phonetics'? And What is 'Phonology'?
Received Pronunciation (R.P.)
Mechanism of Articulation
The air-stream: (Mouth and nose cavities)
2. Speech organs/articulators
The palate
The tongue
The teeth
The lips
The vocal cords
.
(3)
October 27-31, 2013
3. Consonant and vowel sounds
What is a consonant? And how is it produced?
What is a vowel? And how is it produced?
English consonants
(4)
November 3-7, 2013
(5)
November 10-14,
2013
4. Classification of English consonants accordingto:
Voice
Place of articulation
Manner of articulation
Length and strength
5. Descriptions of English consonants
English vowels
First Exam
(6)
November 17-21,2013
(7)
6. Classification of English vowels according to:
Quality
November 24-28, 2013
Parts of the tongue
Height of the tongue, Shape of the lips
7. Descriptions of the vowels of English
(8)
December 1-5, 2013
Sound sequences
Consonant sequences
(9)
December 8-12, 2013
8. Initial sequences
Final sequences
Longer consonant sequences
(10)
December 15-19,
2013
9. Vowel sequences
Diphthongs
Triphthongs
Other vowel sequences
10 Transcription
(11)
December 22-26, 2013
(12)
December 29, 2013January 2,214
(13)
January 5-9,214
Phonetic transcription
Phonemic transcription
Second Exam
11. Syllables and syllabification
Monosyllable words
Polysyllable words
(14)
January12-16,214
General Revision
Modes of Assessment:
Modes of Assessment
Score
Date
First Exam
20
November 17-21,2013
Second Exam
20
December 29, 2013January 2,214
Assignment / Seminar / Project / Quizzes / Tutorial
20
Final Exam
40
 Make-up exams will be offered for valid reasons only with consent of the Dean. Make-up exams
may be different from regular exams in content and format.
Attendance Policy:
Lecture attendance is mandatory. Student is allowed maximally 15% absentia of the total module
hours. More than this percentage, student with an excuse will be drawn from the module.
Otherwise, student will be deprived from the module with zero mark assigned.
Expected Workload:
On average you should expect to spend at least (4) hours per week on this module.
Text Book:
O'Connor, J. D. (1967) Better English Pronunciation. Cambridge University Press, G.B.