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LN4022: PHONETICS (2022-2023)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:31


Course Overview

In previous courses we have focused on articulatory phonetics, gaining an understanding of how speech sounds are produced in the vocal tract. This course links this knowledge to investigation of acoustic phonetics: the analysis of soundwaves in order to identify different phonetic features. Each week there is a seminar to introduce phonetic theory, followed by a practical in which you will learn how to use freely available software to conduct acoustic analysis of your own and others’ voices.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr William S. Barras

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

In previous courses we have focused on articulatory phonetics, gaining an understanding of how speech sounds are produced in the vocal tract. This course links this knowledge to investigation of acoustic phonetics: the analysis of soundwaves in order to identify different phonetic features. Each week there is a seminar to introduce phonetic theory, followed by a practical in which you will learn how to use the freely available Praat software to conduct acoustic analysis of your own voice before extending this to compare different voices. Assessment involves a combination of theoretical and practical work.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks 12 Feedback Weeks 15

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Feedback

Feedback will be provided by tutors in written form through the online coursework submission platform Turnitin.

Word Count 2500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandBe able to discuss the links between articulatory phonetic processes and acoustic phonetic phenomena
ConceptualUnderstandBe able to discuss links between the articulatory and acoustic properties of speech and the processes involved in speech perception
ConceptualUnderstandBe able to explain various processes in articulatory phonetics
ConceptualUnderstandUnderstand and discuss the theory behind the use of spectrograms for vowel formant analysis
ProceduralAnalyseBe able to conduct some practical acoustic phonetic analyses using Praat

Language data analysis exercise

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 7 Feedback Weeks 10

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Feedback

750-1000 words

Feedback will be provided by tutors in written form through the online coursework submission platform Turnitin.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandBe able to discuss links between the articulatory and acoustic properties of speech and the processes involved in speech perception
ConceptualUnderstandUnderstand and discuss the theory behind the use of spectrograms for vowel formant analysis
ProceduralAnalyseBe able to conduct some practical acoustic phonetic analyses using Praat

Tutorial/Seminar Participation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 Feedback Weeks 12

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Feedback

Assessed over weeks 1-11 of teaching.

Students will be provided with a comment through the Blackboard platform, as well as oral feedback from the tutor throughout the course if desired.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandBe able to discuss the links between articulatory phonetic processes and acoustic phonetic phenomena
ConceptualUnderstandBe able to discuss links between the articulatory and acoustic properties of speech and the processes involved in speech perception
ConceptualUnderstandBe able to explain various processes in articulatory phonetics
ConceptualUnderstandUnderstand and discuss the theory behind the use of spectrograms for vowel formant analysis
ProceduralAnalyseBe able to conduct some practical acoustic phonetic analyses using Praat

Acoustic analysis exercise

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks 5 Feedback Weeks 8

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback will be provided by tutors in written form through the online coursework submission platform Turnitin.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandUnderstand and discuss the theory behind the use of spectrograms for vowel formant analysis
ProceduralAnalyseBe able to conduct some practical acoustic phonetic analyses using Praat

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback will be provided by tutors in written form through the online coursework submission platform Turnitin.

Word Count 2500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandBe able to explain various processes in articulatory phonetics
ConceptualUnderstandBe able to discuss links between the articulatory and acoustic properties of speech and the processes involved in speech perception
ConceptualUnderstandUnderstand and discuss the theory behind the use of spectrograms for vowel formant analysis
ProceduralAnalyseBe able to conduct some practical acoustic phonetic analyses using Praat
ConceptualUnderstandBe able to discuss the links between articulatory phonetic processes and acoustic phonetic phenomena

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