Phonology

How do the sounds of a language form a system, and how do linguists figure out how it works? This course introduces phonology (the study of sound patterns in human language) through hands-on problem solving and original research. We begin with the International Phonetic Alphabet and the range of sounds found in the world’s languages. Students then learn to analyze alternations, where part of a word is pronounced differently in different contexts (the English plural suffix ‑s, for example, is pronounced [z] in tigers but [s] in cats). Working with sound patterns from many languages, students learn to build phonological arguments and write professional analyses following the conventions of the field.

A highlight of the course is a semester-long research project. In small groups, students study the sound system of an underdocumented language. They transcribe original audio recordings, develop a basic phonological description, and (where possible) collect new data remotely with a speaker. The semester ends with a mini-conference where each group presents its findings.

There are no prerequisites, though one prior linguistics course (such as Linguistics 1060 Human Language) is recommended. The course satisfies a core prerequisite for Linguistics 4870 Field Methods in Linguistics, the capstone of the Linguistics major. 

English 4630 is cross-listed with Linguistics 4630. Graduate students may enroll in English/Linguistics 7630.