LINGUISTICS 471
Phonetics and Phonology
University of Montana
Autumn 2010
Syllabus
Time:
Place:
Instructor:
Email:
MWF 10:10am – 11:00am
SS 258 (SSRL)
Dr. Mizuki Miyashita
mizuki.miyashita@umontana.edu
Office:
Office hours:
Phone:
SS 212
M 12-1, T 11-12 (or by appo.)
243-5164
Objectives/Goals of this Course
This course introduces fundamental knowledge of phonetics and phonology. The course content includes
understanding of basic acoustic and articulatory phonetics, developing analytical skills in phonology and
learning introductory phonological theories. With our new information, we will strive to solve phonological
problems, and this process will provide you not only with familiarity in phonology but also with critical
thinking skills and written presentation skills which you need to be prepared for your academic and/or
professional environment in the future.
This course is designed for graduate students in linguistics program and undergraduate students who are
interested in the field of linguistics. Main lectures consist of lectures and class activities. The class activities
involve problem solving in order for you to be trained to read and understand the given data sets. This activity is
important because you will need to do similar tasks when you work on your homework.
This course fulfills the requirement for MA in linguistics, minor in Linguistics, major/minor in Anthropology
and Linguistics option in Anthropology major.
Prerequisites
LING 470 Introduction to Linguistic Analysis
Course Requirements and Grading Criteria:
Homework 1, 2, 3 & 4
40% (10 x 4)
Homework 5 & 6
30% (15 x 2)
Homework 7 (Undergrad)
30%
Homework 7 (Grad)
20%
Paper
(Grad)
10%
93-100%
89-92%
86-88%
82-85%
A
AB+
B
79-81%
76-78%
72-75%
69-71%
B- 66-68%
C+ 62-65%
C 59-61%
C0-58%
D+
D
DF
Blackboard
This course uses online supplement, blackboard. http://www.umt.edu/xls/blackboard/
All homework assignments and supplement materials (data and handouts) are posted here.
All enrolled students have link to the course.
This tool is often updated. Supplemental materials and data sets to be used in class are posted.
Homework Assignments
General Information
Homework assignments are posted on Blackboard.
Every homework assignment is graded for its quality. Most of them require you to sit and think for many hours.
These assignments do not involve simple and repetitive work. Be ready to dedicate your time. Take it seriously.
Assignments are collected in the beginning of class.
Expectations Regarding Homework Assignments
Your homework assignments must be typed. Use Doulos SIL for IPA and other phonetic symbols. Computers
in labs SS 258, LA206, LA 242 and Library have this font. You may download and install this font in your own
computer. (To download free Doulos SIL font, go to http://www.sil.org/. Then go to “What we provide” on the
left menu column, point “Computers and Writing Systems”, select “SIL fonts” and click. On the font page,
Click on Doulos SIL font.) Download the font and install it in your computer.
Late assignments are not considered for full points the excuse follows the university’s policy. (University
related events, injury, etc.) If your excuse is valid, contact me before due date. If you are in emergency, contact
me as soon as possible. When your work is turned in late, assume that your score will be about 50% lower than
your originally earned score.
All homework assignments except for the first two involve data analyses. For a data analysis part, you must
provide your analysis in a paper form which we call “write-up.” This follows the writing style in recent
phonology which you may study by reading phonological articles and the textbook.
We will go over two writing samples in the first few weeks. You need to use them as models. The way you
present your analysis may change when we cover different theories and topics in class. You are expected to
keep the basic style, yet to be creative in showing your points to be made.
Questions Regarding Homework Assignments
I am available for questions on clarification of the data and direction (symbols, phrasing, terminology).
You may also ask questions on lecture clarification, and theories relevant to the assignment.
I do not think for you. Improving your problem solving skills is a part of the exercise. You will be graded on
how you present and explain your thinking process. Getting a right answer is only a part of the grading criteria.
Graduate Students
Write an original phonology paper using data other than English. You may work on a language you know or
consult a descriptive grammar book of unfamiliar language (avoid pedagogical grammar). For your theoretical
framework, use one or combination of the following theories: Autosegmental Theory, Metrical Theory, and
Optimality Theory. 15 page max., including references, double spaced. (References are single spaced)
If you wish to receive direction and comments on your work, turn in:
data, data description and theoretical account proposal (3 page max.) by November 19th (F), and
first draft by November 29st (M).
Textbooks
Required:
Hayes, Bruce. (2009). Introductory Phonology. First Edition. Wiley-Blackwell. [BH] (Bookstore)
Catford, J. C. (2001). A Practical Introduction to Phonetics. Second Edition. Oxford. [JC] (Bookstore)
Archangeli, Diana. (1997). "Optimality Theory: An Introduction to Linguistics in the 1990s" IN Optimality
Theory: An Overview. Diana Archangeli and Terry Langendoen, eds. MA: Blackwell. (Blackboard)
Optional:
Pullman and Ladusaw.(1986). Phonetic Symbol Guide. Chicago Press. (Bookstore)
Kagar, Renee. (1999). Optimality Theory. Cambridge. (Bookstore)
Suggested readings
Gussenhoven and Jacobs (2005). Understanding Phonology. Second Edition. Oxford University Press.
John T. Jensen. (2004). Principles of Generative Phonology. John Benjamins.
Kenstowicz, Michael. (1994) Phonology in Generative Grammar. Cambridge: Blackwell Publishers.
McCarthy John & Alan Prince. (1993) “Prosodic morphology I: constraint interaction and satisfaction”, ms.,
University of Massachusetts. & Rutgers University.
Roca, Iggy and Wyn Johnson. (1999). A Course in Phonology. Cambridge: Blackwell.
Accommodation
Whenever possible, and in accordance with civil rights laws, the University of Montana will attempt to provide
reasonable modifications to students with disabilities who request and require them. Please feel free to setup a
time with me to discuss any modifications that may be necessary for this course. For more information, visit the
Disability Services for Students website at http://life.umt.edu/dss.
Partial Schedule (Tentative)
Dates
1
2
Aug. 30
Sept. 1
Sept. 3
Sept. 6
Sept. 8
Sept. 10
Topic (Handouts)
Intro. & 0 Preparation
1 Articulatory phonetics
Concepts & Data
Books
Articulatory Phonetics
IPA Chart
[BH] 1-19
No Class (Labor Day)
2 Acoustic phonetics
Formants
Frequencies
Sept. 13
Sept. 15
Sept. 17
2 Acoustic phonetics (cont.)
Measurments
Vowel Plotting
4
Sept. 20
Sept. 22
Sept. 24
3 Phonemics
Angas & Kongo, Ewe Liquids
Phonological neutralizations
German Obstruents
[BH]19-69
5
Sept. 27
Sept. 29
Oct. 1
4 Distinctive Features
Feature Charts
Natural Classes
Georgian/ Write-up(Georgian)
[BH] 19-102
6
Oct. 4
Oct. 6
Oct. 8
5 Feature and Autosegmental
Theory
Spanish, Underspecification
Autosegmental Theory & Feature
Tone, Feature Geometry
7
Oct. 11
Oct. 13
Oct. 15
5 Feature and Autosegmental
Theory (cont.)
Akan
Turkish
Nisgha
8
Oct. 18
Oct. 20
Oct. 22
6 Rule Ordering, Feeding &
Bleeding
Rule Ordering, Serbo-Croatian
Feeding and Bleeding
Write-up Croatian
9
Oct. 25
Oct. 27
Oct. 29
6 Rule Ordering, Feeding &
Bleeding (cont.)
Basque
Tagalog
S
B
Nov. 1
Nov. 3
Nov. 5
7 Syllables & Syllabification
10
Nov. 8
Nov. 10
Nov. 12
11
12
3
13
14
Due
[JC] 11-31
HW1 Transcription (W)
[JC] 119-162
HW2 Vowel Plotting (M)
HW3 Natural Class &
Greenlandic Eskimo (M)
[BH] 161-189
HW4 Mari (M)
Syllabification
Sonority
Templatic Analysis
[BH] 250-270
HW5 Lamba (M)
8 Metrical Phonology
Metrical Theory
Stress assignments
Asymmetric Typology
[BH] 269-290
Nov. 15
Nov. 17
Nov. 19
9 Optimality Theory
OT Basic concepts
Motivating OT
Archangeli
Nov. 22
Nov. 24
Nov. 26
Nov. 29
Dec. 1
Dec. 3
9 Optimality Theory (cont.)
9 Optimality Theory (cont.)
Parallelism and Functional Unity
Metrical Constraints
Dec. 6
Dec. 8
Dec. 10
9 Optimality Theory (cont.)
More OT
HW6 Creek (M)
Data/descript./account(Grad)
No Class
No Class Thanksgiving Week
Summary
Wed. 10AM
Dec. 15
This is a tentative schedule: any change will be announced.
Draft (Grad)
HW7 OT (F)
Grad paper