LS2ANS: Analysing Speech

Module code: LS2ANS

Module provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Jane Setter, email: J.E.Setter@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE LS1SG (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE LS2EGP (Compulsory)

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This highly practical module equips students with a selection of techniques for analysing spoken language data. It is useful for those interested in careers involving the pronunciation of children, how accents differ, analysing spoken language learner features, speech and language therapy, forensic speech science, and sociolinguistic research involving speech patterns of a particular subgroup or change of pronunciation over time. This module is distinctive in that students will learn to use speech analysis software, understand acoustic and physical features of speech and develop high-level auditory phonetic analysis skills. It expands on knowledge and skills developed in Part 1 and 2 core modules in phonetics and phonology.

Visiting students that have previous experience knowledge and skills in the subject can take this module.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a high-level understanding of the phonetics and phonology of English;
2. Produce and perceive all sounds on the current chart of the International Phonetic Alphabet;
3. Analyse auditory and acoustic properties of speech, the latter with computer software;
4. Apply their knowledge and skills to problems in phonetic analysis, such as atypical speech populations or forensic speech data.

Module content

Material covered: Articulatory phonetics; features of connected speech in English; analysing by ear; reading waveforms; relating waveforms to articulation; spectrograms; relating spectrograms to articulation; suprasegmentals; voice quality; speech rate; analysing speech features from different speaker populations. The course begins with an examination of the uses of phonetic transcription and what sorts of detail can be captured using impressionistic phonetics. Next it examines instrumental techniques for examining speech, including recording and editing. The relationship between articulation and the speech waveform are examined. Computer lab sessions will comprise a large part of this component.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, practical oral classes, flipped lecture content and supervised time in the computer lab.

Study hours

At least 34 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will be given the opportunity to produce a formative articulatory description to be submitted in Week 8 of term.

Reassessment

Additional costs