During this module you will gain a deeper and broader understanding of the technical and theoretical concepts of phonetics and phonology, and gain an understanding of the relationship between data and analysis by broadening and deepening your understanding of the organisation of speech in its most natural environment, conversation, and by having the opportunity to collect and analyse your own data.
You will become proficient and develop competence in phonetics in the following ways:
Students will develop an increased tolerance of ambiguity and a respect for the tentative nature of scientific knowledge:
Note that a Research Extension module can be taken alongside this module, for students who wish to write a dissertation.
This module will be capped at 20.
Students must have successfully completed:
It is strongly suggested that students taking this module also take one or both of the following:
Two hours per week with a mixture of lectures, data analysis sessions, and writing workshops spread over the module.
The module focuses on the phonetic design and interactional function of some aspect of conversation. Past topics include lists, repairs, questions and clicks. The module starts with an overview of the methods and topic to be researched on the module, introducing students to the principles and methods of Conversation Analysis. Students are taken through the process of building and working with a collection of data. An important part of the learning process is regular data sessions, where students present and analyse together fragments of real conversation. The later parts of the module focus on preparing the findings for writing up the final essay assessment.
Students will be encouraged to construct their own individualised reading lists by using the annotated bibliography for the module available via the VLE.
All modules provide an opportunity to work on general oral/written communication skills (in class and in assessments) and general self management (organising your studies), alongside the specific skills in language or linguistics that the module teaches.
In addition, this module will allow you to particularly develop skills in synthesis and application of data analysis skills learned separately. This module involves applying the phonetic analysis techniques learned in other modules to a new method of analysing everyday talk; being able to explicitly relate knowledge gained from different spheres of experience (and thus confidently tackle unfamiliar problems you may meet in a job) is a valued and valuable skill to bring to employers.
Follow this link to hear how past students use transferable skills from their degree in their current jobs.
About this module
- Module name
The phonetics of talk in interaction- Course code
L31H (LAN00031H)- Teacher
Richard Ogden- Term(s) taught
Spring-Summer- Credits
20