Overview

Studying phonetics at an advanced level with this module enables you to make in-depth analysis of speech and understand why people sound the way they do. You will take a scientific and experimental approach to transcribing, analysing and investigating spoken language using specialist software, as well as learning how to collect sound data towards linguistic analysis.

This module is perfect for you if you have already undertaken and enjoyed modules in phonetics, and especially if you have an interest in the way that linguists research sounds today using scientific methods.

Students in this module, depending on assessment topics, research question(s) and methodologies will have to opportunity to utilize the department labs, specialized software and resources, when carry out their assessments. This can include access to and the use of; dedicated lab facilities for experiments, a professional grade sound isolation booth and high-end recording equipment setup, high-level statistical modelling and analysis software and acoustic and phonetic analysis software.

Students will learn about topics like: • experimental data design • recording speech • sociophonetic variation • speech technology • analysing the acoustic properties of sounds • reading waveforms and spectrograms • relating waveforms and spectrograms to articulation • analysing fundamental frequency (pitch) • using speech analysis software.

Assessment Strategy

Threshold (D- to D+) Submitted work is adequate and shows an acceptable level of competence as follows: 1.Generally accurate but with omissions and errors.2.Assertions are made without clear supporting evidence or reasoning.3.Has structure but is lacking in clarity and therefore relies on the reader to make links and assumptions.4.Draws on a relatively narrow range of material.

Good (C- to B+) Submitted work is competent throughout and may be distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It: 1.Demonstrates good or very good structure and logically developed arguments.2.Draws at least in parts on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student.3.Assertions are backed by evidence and sound reasoning.4.Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.

Excellent (A- to A*) Submitted work is of an outstanding quality and excellent in one or more of the following ways: 1.Has originality of exposition with the student’s own thinking being readily apparent.2.Provides clear evidence of extensive and relevant independent study.3.Arguments are laid down with clarity and provide the reader with successive stages of consideration to reach conclusions.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply techniques and applications of the acoustic analysis of speech used in the literature.

• Classify a wide range of speech sounds in the context of theory.

• Collect, transcribe and categorize speech data in a systematic way.

• Detect and describe speech waveforms and spectrograms using speech analysis software.