Course Description
The French sound system in theory and practice. How French sounds are formed and how they reflect social class and geographical origin. Work on pronunciation in class and the language laboratory. Given in French.
Athena Title
FRENCH PHONETICS
Prerequisite
FREN(LING) 3090
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course will describe the French sound system and how it can distinguish speakers of different geographical origins and social classes. Students will work on their own pronunciation through classroom drill and work in the language laboratory. The difference in literary style and genre as reflected in the sound system will be studied. To improve their understanding of the sound system, students will also learn and practice phonetic transcription.
Topical Outline
The production of sounds: Articulatory phonetics; Vowels: High, mid, low; Semi-vowels, alternation with high vowels; Consonants: Stops, fricatives, resonants; Distribution: Mid vowels, Nasal vowels and consonants; Suprasegmentals: Rhythm, intonation; Phonics: Sound-symbol correspondences; Phonetic transcription; The phonetic representation of literary texts: Genre, style; Phonetic variation: Social class, geographical origin; Practice in reproducing the French sound system.
Syllabus