SEL8117 : Phonetics and Phonology (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Niamh Kelly
- Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This course aims to establish a basic understanding of phonetics and phonology, developing the skills necessary for examining data and using formal means for describing observations based on the data. It will heighten metalinguistic awareness of the subject in a systematic way that will inform and enhance the sensitivity, accuracy and clarity of the student’s knowledge of the sound system of human language. Moreover, the student will be encouraged to apply their understanding to their own language (often not English).
Outline Of Syllabus
1. What is phonetics? Representing sounds
2. Articulatory, acoustic and auditory classification
3. The description and classification of consonants
4. The description and classification of vowels
5. The syllable.
6. Phonetics v. Phonology, phonetic v. phonological features
7. The distribution of speech sounds; phonemes and allophone; phonological relationships
8. Rules and rule interaction, phonological alternations and processes
9. Phonological structure revised
10. Derivational analysis (Generative Phonology)
Seminars will involve discussion of analysis and solutions to problems assigned from the textbook and related materials.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 78:00 | 78:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | small-group discussion of module materials, set text translations, and assessment |
| Total | 100:00 |
Jointly Taught With
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| SEL1027 | Introduction to the Structure of Language 1: Phonetics, Phonology & Morphology |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures introduce students to knowledge outcomes. Seminars develop this knowledge as well as the skills necessary for phonological analysis. Private study is an important part of the programme, requiring close reading of the materials both in advance of lectures and as a follow up to them. Students will be expected to do regular assignments intended to probe and expand the students’ understanding of the concepts covered in lectures. Assignments will revolve mainly around the solving of phonological analysis problems.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 2880 | 1 | A | 100 | 48h take-home exam online |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
To test students’ analytical skill in an unseen context.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SEL8117's Timetable