PLINP201 Phonology of English 2005-6

Prof. J.C.Wells

General. This half-c.u. course within the BA Linguistics (with lectures also attended by students of the MA Phonetics and MA Modern English Language) examines patterns underlying the surface detail of English phonetics. We shall discuss rival approaches to phonology, as applied to English, and study selected rules of English phonology.

Lectures this year will be in the second term, on Mondays at 10.00 in Medawar Bldg, Watson LT. Back-up classes follow immediately at 11.00: for undergraduates in Rm 5, 20 Gordon Square with Prof. Wells, for postgraduates in Room 3, 21 Gordon Sq. (Mrs Jill House). The provisional list of lecture topics is as follows:

• 9 Jan 2006, Introduction; (handout, homework)
• 16 Jan, Allophony; (handout, homework, Powerpoint)
• 23 Jan, The vowel system; clipping; (handout, homework), Powerpoint)
• 30 Jan, Difficulties with taxonomic phonemics; (handout, homework)
• 6 Feb, R liaison (handout, homework);
• 13 Feb, READING WEEK, no lecture;
• 20 Feb, Rules affecting consonants; (handout, homework);
• 27 Feb, Inflectional morphology; weak forms (handout, homework);
• 6 Mar, Strong and weak vowels; syllabic consonants (handout, homework);
• 13 Mar, Compression, smoothing, breaking; (handout)
• 20 Mar, Compound stress (handout).

  It is assumed that all participants are familiar with the elements of phonetic theory, terminology and notation, and have done an introductory course on English phonetics.

  Workload. Apart from the lecture and backup class (see above), an assignment (homework) will be set each week. In addition to this you are expected to read on and around the subject.

  Key reading. The essential reference book is A.C.Gimson, Introduction to the Pronunciation of English, 6th ed. revised by Alan Cruttenden, Edward Arnold 2001. Gain further inspiration from Susan Ramsaran (ed.), Studies in the Pronunciation of English, Routledge 1990, and perhaps also C.W.Kreidler, The Pronunciation of English, Blackwell 1989, or even from J.C.Wells, Longman Pronunciation Dictionary, second edition, Longman 2000.

  Assessment

  • (BA/BSc) You are assessed 50% on the basis of the weekly assignments, and 50% on an essay on a subject of your choice (approx. 3000 words, by 2 May).
  • (MA) Your assessment is only by relevant questions in the invigilated written examination in May. You are however encouraged to do the regular weekly assignments, although they will not count towards your exam result.

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  J.C.Wells home page

  UCL Phonetics and Linguistics home page.

  University College London home page.

  last modified 2006 Jan 23