Sound Patterns in Human Language (250-0-20)
Instructors
Dorina Strori
847/491-5831
2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL Swift 009
Erin M. Leddon
847/467-7092
2016 Sheridan Rd, Rm. 305
Office Hours: By appt
Meeting Info
Harris Hall 107: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
Linguistics 250 is an introduction to the sound structure of language. We will learn to describe speech sounds in the three domains of speech: the articulatory domain (how speech sounds are produced in the human vocal tract), the acoustic domain (their form in the acoustic medium), and the perceptual domain (how listeners process the incoming speech signal). We will learn to recognize the ways in which speech sounds pattern in language to convey meaning, and the ways in which these patterns are similar and different across the languages of the world. Finally, circumstances and time permitting, we will also learn about current speech technology as it applies to computerized speech synthesis and speech recognition.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. Describe how the human vocal tract functions to create speech sounds in human languages, and recognize and describe the articulatory characteristics of speech sounds.
2. Describe the essential acoustic characteristics of human speech sound, and to identify and measure those characteristics in digitized speech.
3. Recognize the symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and their associated speech sounds, and to use the IPA for phonetic transcription of spoken English.
4. Recognize and describe the sound inventories of individual languages, and their sound patterns, in terms of phonemes, allophones and syllables. Analyze sound patterns using formal (symbolic) rules.
5. Recognize and describe how phonetic and phonological models of sound structure are applied in the development of computer technologies for speech recognition and speech synthesis.
Teaching Method
Lectures/discussions, small group activities, peer feedback, homework.
Evaluation Method
Homework, projects, quizzes, exams
Class Materials (Required)
Title: The Sounds of Language by Elizabeth C. Zsiga
Publication Date: January 18, 2013 (1st edition)
ISBN-13: 978-1405191036
Class Materials (Suggested)
N/A
Class Attributes
Natural Sciences Distro Area