Introduction to The Sounds of English
About the course
This course is mandatory for students in the one-year study in English program and the bachelor program in English.
The course may be taken as a single course.
This course introduces students to the pronunciation of English and its cognitive underpinnings, that is, the phonetics and phonology of English. Our focus will be on the two major accents, referred to as BBC English (or Received Pronunciation) and Generalized American English, but we will also look at other regional pronunciation variants.
In addition, we will study variation which is determined by social factors such as membership of a particular social group/class or by the formality of the situation, including differences related to pragmatic aspects, as well as historical development.
This course provides a foundational set of core skills and knowledge in phonology and phonetics that will prepare students for courses specializing in the different subfields of English linguistics, such as those on language change, psycholinguistics, acquisition, and sociolinguistic variation.
Admission requirements
Higher Education Entrance Qualification (generell studiekompetanse) or prior learning and work experience (realkompetanse).
A good command of oral and written English is recommended.
Admission code: 9199 - Enkeltemner (ikke realfag), lavere grad (Nordic applicants).
Objectives of the course
The students have the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge
The student has:
- knowledge of the basic concepts of phonetics and phonology.
- knowledge of the phonological system of major English variants.
- an understanding of the ways in which phonological systems can vary and what the reasons might be for this.
Skills
The student is able to/can
- read and write phonetic transcriptions (IPA).
- classify sounds and describe how they are produced.
- analyze ordered sets of phonological data.
- describe and account for different aspects of variation in pronunciation.
Credit reduction
If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:
- ENG-1011 Introduction to English Language II 10 ects
- ENG-1011 Introduction to English Grammar II 10 ects
Teaching methods
13 weeks of lectures and seminars (4 hours of teaching per week).
Quality assurance
All courses will be evaluated once during the period of the study program. The board of the program decides which courses will be evaluated by students and teacher each year.
Language of instruction and examination
EnglishSchedule
The schedules are normally finalized and published well in advance of the start of the semester, often a few weeks beforehand. This gives students the opportunity to organize their studies and prepare for upcoming activities.
It is recommended to check the schedule regularly, as changes may occur.
Information to incoming exchange students
This course is open for inbound exchange students. It has no academic prerequisites.
Do you have questions about this module? Please check the following website to contact the course coordinator for exchange students at the faculty: INBOUND STUDENT MOBILITY: COURSE COORDINATORS AT THE FACULTIES | UiT
Examination
To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements
| Essay | Approved – not approved |
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