Pronunciation & Speech
Department of English Language & Literature
Second Term 2013/2014
Course Title: Pronunciation & Speech
Course Number: 2201325
Meeting Time: 12:00 – 1:00
Instructor’s Name
Office Hours
Office Phone Number
Email Address
Dr. Raya Kalaldeh
Mon-Wed: 9:30-11:00
5355000 ext. 24771
r.kalaldeh@ju.edu.jo
Course Description:
This course introduces proper English pronunciation to native speakers of Arabic in order to
improve their English pronunciation and to reduce the foreignness in their speech. Additionally,
the course helps in developing listening comprehension of English speech. First, the phonemic
inventory of English (consonants and vowels, respectively) is introduced and theInternational
Phonetic Association(IPA) symbols are explained and used in transcription.Focus will be on
speech sounds that are particularly problematic for native speakers of Arabic. The major
differences between British and American Englishareintroduced, particularly in the vocalic
system.Next, the stress pattern of English words is introduced and students will practice
producing the correct stress pattern of individual words. What follows is producing connected
speech with emphasis on the weak forms of ‘function’ words. The proper intonation patternsof
Englishutterances are introduced according to sentence mode (statement, yes-no question, whquestion, declarative questions, and exclamations). Finally, students practice producing different
speech acts including greetings, apologies, requests, offering suggestions, expressing opinions,
extending formal and informal invitations, and displaying politeness. Since language is regarded
as a medium for encoding culture, throughout the course reference is made to elements of culture
including inter-personal communication and levels of formality in spoken English.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, students should be able to:

Produce and perceive the English consonant and vowel speech sounds correctly.

Match the IPA symbols to native speaker-recorded consonants and vowels.

Produce the correct stress patterns of English words.

Produce the correct intonation patterns in different types of English utterances.

Produce various speech acts in English with the proper articulation of speech sounds, and
correct stress and intonation patterns.

Converse in English using the different speech acts in a culturally appropriate manner.

Analyze speaker intentions and responses appropriately.

Differentiate between British and American dialects of English.
Software and Websites:

Ellis Master Pronunciation Software www.formavision.com

Boersma, Paul &Weenink, David (2012). Praat: doing phonetics by computer [Computer
program]. Version 5.3.05, retrieved 20 February 2012 from http://www.praat.org/

http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/english/frameset.html

http://international.ouc.bc.ca/pronunciation/

http://www.btinternet.com/~ted.power/l1arabic.html

IPA Charts: http://www.paulmeier.com/ipa/charts.html

http://dictionary.reference.com/
References:
There will be several handouts from different sources, mainly the references listed below:

Carr, P. 2013. English phonetics and phonology: an introduction.2nd Ed. UK: Oxford.
Blackwell publishing Ltd.

Roach, P. 2010. English phonetics and phonology: a practical course.Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.

Wells, J. C. 1982. Accents of English. rpt. 1996 Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
Methodology:
Students are advised to have a file/folder as they will be given worksheets and photocopied
material from different references throughout the course. Students will do different pronunciation
exercises and transcription of utterances elicited by native speakers of English. The above
mentioned websites will be used for explanation and practice throughout the course. Students are
advised to consult any of the major British or American dictionaries in order check their
pronunciation and transcription. As most electronic dictionaries do not use the IPA symbols, the
use of such dictionaries is discouraged. Students are advised to use the relevant websitesat home
by recording themselves and comparing their speech to that of the native speaker-recorded
speech. Students should have access to the contents of this course available on the E-course.
Course Plan:
This course plan is subject to modifications. Students will be notified of any changes beforehand.
Week
Dates
Lectures
Topic
1.
16/2 – 20/2
3
English Consonants
2.
23/2 – 27/2
3
English Consonants
3.
2/3 – 6/3
3
English Vowels
4.
9/3 – 13/3
3
English Vowels
5.
16/3 – 20/3
3
Transcription
6.
23/3 – 27/3
3
7.
30/3 – 3/4
3
8.
6/4 – 10/4
3
9.
13/4 – 17/4
3
English Word Stress
Speech Acts: introducing & socialising, apologising, asking
for favours & information
Speech Acts: expressing opinions, disappointment &
complaints, giving advice, asking for permission
MID-TERM EXAMINATION
10.
20/4 – 24/4
3
Practice class + Quiz 2
11.
27/4 – 30/4
2
Practice class + Quiz 2
1/5
Labour’s Day
12.
4/5 – 8/5
3
Practice class + Quiz 2
13.
11/5 – 15/5
3
Practice class + Quiz 2
14.
18/5 – 22/5
3
FINAL EXAMINATION
25/5
15.
27/5
1
Independence Day
FINAL EXAMINATION
Course Policy:

You are expected to be in class on time. Students coming late are allowed to enter but
will be counted as absent. The same applies to leaving class early. No exceptions.

Participation and students’ involvement are crucial to the success of the course. All
students are expected to have read the assignedmaterials before coming to class in order
to fully engage in the discussions.

The University of Jordan allows students to be absent SEVEN times during the semester.
These times include those with an excuse. The only excuse that would remove your
absence from your record is in case of a conflict with another course (a scheduled
writtenexam). If you exceed this limit, you will not be allowed to sit for the final exam.

No make-up exams. In case of absence in exams because of sickness, only reports issued
directly from a public clinic or hospital will be accepted. Medical reports from private
practiced doctors or private hospitals will not be accepted even if they are stamped by the
university’s clinic. Reports should be produced within a week of the date of the exam. No
exceptions.
Course Evaluation:
Examination
Quiz 1 (written)
Grading
Date
th
10%
20 of March
Time
12 - 1
Venue
Lecture venue
Midterm
30%
13 +15 +17 of April
12 - 1
Lecture venue
Quiz 2 (reading passage)
10%
20th f April – 15th of May
12 - 1
Lecture venue
Final
50%
18th – 27th of May
12 - 1
Lecture venue
th
th
th