Module 1: Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology
Overview of Phonetics and Phonology
The role of phonetics and phonology in linguistics
Key concepts: Speech sounds, transcription, and the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
The relationship between phonetics and phonology
Historical background and the evolution of phonetic analysis
 
Module 2: The Articulatory Phonetics of Speech Sounds
The anatomy of speech production
How speech sounds are articulated: vocal cords, tongue, lips, teeth, and more
Consonants and vowels: classification and production
Articulatory features: place, manner, and voicing
 
Module 3: Acoustic Phonetics and Sound Waves
Introduction to sound waves and their properties: frequency, amplitude, and duration
Acoustic analysis of speech sounds
Spectrograms and formant frequencies
The relationship between articulation and acoustics
 
Module 4: Phonetic Transcription
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA): symbols and usage
Broad vs. narrow transcription
Transcribing speech sounds in different languages
Practical transcription exercises
 
Module 5: Phonological Analysis and Sound Patterns
What is phonology? Understanding phonological rules and processes
Phonemes, allophones, and minimal pairs
Phonological processes: assimilation, elision, and metathesis
Phonotactics: the rules governing the possible sounds in a language
 
Module 6: Suprasegmental Features: Stress, Intonation, and Pitch
Stress patterns in speech and their role in meaning
Intonation and its communicative functions
Pitch and tone: The role of pitch in distinguishing meaning
Stress and intonation in different languages
 
Module 7: Phonological Processes in Different Languages
Cross-linguistic variations in phonological processes
The role of phonology in language change
Case studies: Phonological processes in English, Spanish, and Mandarin
Language-specific phonological patterns and exceptions
 
Module 8: Advanced Topics in Phonetics and Phonology
Coarticulation and its effects on speech sounds
Phonological typology: The study of sound systems across languages
Speech perception and the role of phonology in understanding speech
Future directions in phonetic and phonological research