Course description

Spoken language is the basis of most human communication - and in one's native language most speakers do not think twice about whether it is easy or hard to master. A foreign language is a different matter; for most people, good pronunciation is practically impossible to acquire without intensive and explicit intellectual effort based on scientific principles. This class is concerned with these principles.
Interactive audio-visual media have been used in phonetics research and teaching for many decades in order to visualise acoustic and other speech signals for further study. We will continue this tradition, using modern media based on easy-to-use interactive software. This approach also ensures that students gain knowledge about multi-media techniques which will be important in many professions in the near future, including the teaching profession.
At the end of the course, students will have a thorough knowledge of practical aspects of recording and analysing speech; production of a CD-ROM with basic speech data; the theoretical basis for analysing the phonological and phonetic properties of vowels, consonants, and speech melody; practical transcription techniques; basic principles of the production and perception of speech; the phonological structure of words and syllables, mainly of English, but also in a variety of other languages.
Please note:

1. Englisch/Anglistik: This class is obligatory ("Pflichtkurs") for students of English, and constitutes half of the Grundkurs in English Linguistics. The course is not open for the "Zwischenprüfung", but of course term papers may be written.
2. Because of increased demand in linguistics, the class is also open to students of Linguistics, course numbers permitting, and counts as the course "Grundstudium, Wahlpflicht: Phonetik/Phonologie". A maximum of 10 candidates for the "Zwischenprüfung" will be accepted. Note that other seminars are also available for this purpose, and that I will be offering the course exclusively for students of Linguistics in the Summer semester.
3. There is a course limit of 50 participants. Top priority will be given to those for whom it is a "Pflichtkurs", then to those who need to do the "Zwischenprüfung".
4. Prospective participants must register personally in lists outside my office, starting at the beginning of October, before the class starts (absolutely no email or postal registration). There will be separate lists for students of English and students of Linguistics.