Linguistics 115

PHONETICS/PHONOLOGY
Fall 2006
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~ling115

Professor: Andrew Nevins, 5-8107; nevins@fas.harvard.edu

Boylston 317; Office hrs Wed 2-4
Teaching Fellows: Patrick Liu (ppliu@fas.harvard.edu); Office hrs Thu 3-5
Dr. Ressy Ai (rai@fas.harvard.edu); Office hrs Mon 2-4
TF Office hrs: Boylston 3rd floor lounge
Lecture Times: Mon, Wed 11:06-11:59pm Boylston 303
Sections: Fridays, to be arranged
Description: Analysis of phonetic and phonological phenomena from a wide
variety of languages. Topics include distinctive feature theory, underlying and
surface representations, the abstractness of phonological representations, rules
and their ordering, language acquisition and change. Training in phonetic
transcription, spectrogram (“voiceprint”) reading, and hypothesis-testing in
phonological analysis.

Textbooks:
Introducing Phonetic Science (Ashby & Maidment)
Introducing Phonology (David Odden).
Both are Cambridge Univ. Press. & available at the COOP
Participation: 5%
- Section Attendance & Contribution
Quiz One: 15 %
- Nov 1: Phonetics
Quiz Two: 15%
- Dec 11 : Phonology
Homeworks/Labs: 50%
-10 homeworks (9% each for Week 3 & 5 Labs; 4% each for remaining 8)
Final Project: 15%
- Can be either: Phonetic research on an unfamiliar language
- Research paper on a phonological process, or acquisition/change
- We will give you lists of topics and suggestions all semester long
- Due Jan 10th at noon. Outline due Nov 23rd.
Schedule

Week One: Sep 18 & Sep 20 Odden Ch1; Ashby Ch1

Week Two: Sep 25 & Sep 27 Ashby Ch 2 & 6
Transcription Lab
Week Three: Oct 2 & Oct 4 Ashby Ch 3
Categorical Percept Lab
Week Four: Oct 9 & Oct 11 Ashby Ch 4
Major Class Lab
Week Five: Oct 16 & Oct 18 Ashby Ch 5
Measure Formants Lab
Week Six: Oct 23 & Oct 25 Ashby Ch 8 & 11
Spectrogram Read Lab
Week Seven: Oct 30 & Nov 1 Phonetics Quiz
Week Eight: Nov 6 & Nov 8 Odden Ch 3
Week Nine: Nov 13 & Nov 15 Odden Ch 4
Week Ten: Nov 20 Odden Ch 5
Week Eleven: Nov 27 & Nov 29 Odden Ch 6
Week Twelve: Dec 4 & Dec 6 Odden Ch 7
Week Thirteen: Dec 11 & Dec 13 Phono Quiz; Farewell