85075 - Phonetics and Phonology (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will know the linguistic theory related to the coding of the linguistic message into sounds. He/she will acquire the fundamentals of articulatory/acoustic phonetics and segmental/suprasegmental phonology. In particular, he/she will be able to analyze the phonetic and phonological aspects of a language or linguistic variety from different perspectives: synchronic, diachronic, sociolinguistic, acquisitional; moreover, he/she will be able to analyze phenomena of phonetic and phonological disruption in pathological speech; finally, he/she will be able to set up autonomously theoretical and experimental research in the fields outlined above.

Course contents

This course introduces the participants to key concepts of contemporary experimental phonetics and phonology.
In particular, it will tackle the following topics:

• articulatory phonetics: description of linguistic sounds production mechanism and IPA transcription system;

• form and substance of the signifier: regularities in the composition of phonological inventories and the lack of segmentability/lack of invariance problems;
• Browman & Goldstein's Articulatory Phonology: from the phoneme to the articulatory gesture as a language primitive;
• phonetic-acoustic and phonological analysis of prosodic phenomena (e.g. intonation and rhythm).

Prerequisites:
The course has been designed for students with a basic background in linguistics (i.e. with competencies like those that are developed in General Linguistics classes).
The students who believe not to have this background knowledge are advised to refer to a basic handbook of linguistics (e.g. Berruto G. & Cerruti M., La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo. Torino, UTET, 2017) and phonetics/phonology (e.g. Albano Leoni F. & Maturi P., Manuale di fonetica, Roma, Carocci 2002).

Readings/Bibliography

1. one of the following books:
   
   • Savoia L.M. (2014), Introduzione alla fonetica e alla fonologia. Bologna: Zanichelli.
     or
   • Nespor M., Bafile L. (2008), I suoni del linguaggio. Bologna: Il Mulino.
2. Albano Leoni F. (2009) Dei suoni e dei sensi. Il volto fonico delle parole. Bologna: il Mulino.
3. Teaching material used in class and uploaded on the e-learning platform.

Students not attending the lessons are strongly invited to get in contact with the teachers, to avoid any misunderstanding about the course contents and reading materials.

Teaching methods

Lectures, collaborative discussion of scientific papers, practical exercises.

Assessment methods

Students can choose between two options:

• traditional oral examination;
• writing and discussion of a short essay on a subject agreed with the teacher. To give a few examples, these subjects could include: phonetic/phonological development in the child, speech disruption in language disorders, the relation between prosody and information structure.

In both cases, the critical ability to evaluate the theoretical contents of the course and the correct usage of the technical terminology typical of the discipline will be positively evaluated.
Repeating mechanically and mnemonically the contents of the course, logical fallacies in the argumentation, and the inadequate mastering of the specialized terminology will be assessed with minimal or insufficient marks.

Teaching tools

Didactic material will be made available on the course's online platform, Virtuale.

Students are required to download available documents and to regularly check for updates.

Office hours

See the website of Gloria Gagliardi