V61.0012 Phonological Analysis
Prof. Adamantios Gafos
Spring 200
Sample Syllabus (from spring 2008)
Prerequisites
V61.0011 OR Permission of the Instructor
Course Description
Phonology is the study of how speech sounds pattern and contrast. How do we know that 'gdin' is not a possible English word but 'krin' is? What does it take to recognize a foreign accent? How can sound systems of languages differ, what do all languages have in common, and what are the sorts of patterns not found in any human language? To answer these questions, we will introduce concepts such as sound classes, features, phonemes, allophones, and syllable structure, and we will look at the role these concepts play in the most common phonological processes in the world's languages. The course will also survey the phonology of stress, tone, and intonation. Analytical skills will be honed by solving phonological problems based on data from English and many other languages.
Last Modified: November 4, 2008