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This module provides students with a basic knowledge of:

• the practical and theoretical study of speech sounds (phonetics)
• the study of articulatory phonetics (i.e. how speech sounds are produced) and the scientific bases of speech production
• the systematic use of speech sounds in language (phonology)
• the practical and theoretical study of variation in speech (e.g., accent variation, multilingualism)

This module is relevant to the HCPC standards of proficiency for speech and language therapists relating to knowledge and understanding of phonetics and phonology, and the skills required for the application of this knowledge in clinical practice.

Aims:

• To familiarise students with phonetic and phonological levels of linguistic description, covering the analysis, articulation and classification of speech sounds and prosodic patterns (phonetics), and their systematic use in spoken language (phonology).
• To develop practical phonetic skills of speech sound perception, production and representation, using symbolic transcription.
• To provide opportunities for students to practise the phonetic transcription of normal, pseudo-disordered and disordered speech (e.g., speech of people with hearing impairment, speech production impairment).
• To develop awareness of how acoustic phonetic approaches to the analysis of speech sounds can support articulatory and auditory analysis through hands-on lab sessions.
• To familiarize students with the study of speech production, in particular the structure and function of the vocal tract and respiration, voice quality.
• To develop an understanding of the sources of variation in speech and how these might affect clinical assessment of speech and language pathology.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge and understanding

At the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the principles underlying the classification and description of speech sounds and prosodic patterns
• the difference between phonetic and phonological descriptions of both normal and disordered speech, with emphasis on patterns of contrast and sequencing, and the skills involved in transcription
• the basic sound system and structure of English
• regional and social variation in English, including multilingualism
• the articulation of speech sounds in relation to the structure and function of the vocal tract
• The acoustic-phonetic characteristics of speech sounds and how these relate to phonetic and phonological levels of linguistic description.

Skills

At the end of the course students will have learned to:

• listen analytically to speech, so as to identify and discriminate between a wide range of speech sounds and prosodic patterns, both English and non-English
• perform (i.e., produce) a wide range of speech sounds and prosodic patterns
• use symbolic and other means (i.e., phonetically transcribe) to represent speech sounds and prosodic patterns in normal, pseudo-clinical and clinical speech

• use specialist software for the acoustic analysis of speech sounds
• integrate knowledge about the classification and description of speech sounds with acoustic phonetic approaches to the study of speech
• apply knowledge about articulatory phonetics, including knowledge of the structure and function of the vocal tract, when considering impairments of speech and hearing
• apply knowledge of variability in speech to clinical speech and language therapy practice

Students will also have further developed the following transferable skills:

• essay/assignment writing
• applying theoretical knowledge to the interpretation of clinical data

These outcomes will be achieved through:

• teaching of the syllabus outlined below
• immediate feedback in ear-training/practical sessions
• guidance and formative feedback from tutors and peers in labs and small-group tutorials
• Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (for Practical Phonetics)
• guided use of recorded listening materials
• formative feedback on exercises, transcriptions and data analyses performed both in class and at home
• guidance and feedback from tutors on assessed work
• web-based and written exercises for independent study
• students’ management of their own learning

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