- Department: Language and Linguistic Science
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
- See module specification for other years: 2023-24
This module builds on students’ pre-existing knowledge of articulatory phonetics by focusing on the relationship between speech production and the domain of speech acoustics, and the connections between these two areas and human speech perception, based on the ‘speech chain’ model (articulation > acoustics > audition, or alternatively production > propagation > perception). The module is designed to equip students with the ability to reason about speech based on a range of phonetic evidence, via their knowledge of theoretical models (e.g. source-filter theory) as well as their mastery of a number of practical tools. Students are trained to design methods for simple but effective data collection for further analysis, and to apply a variety of relevant analytical methods to their speech materials using dedicated software tools.
There are no prerequisite modules, but a solid prior knowledge of articulatory and impressionistic phonetics, including IPA transcription skills, is a requirement. Students who lack training in these areas are likely to struggle with the module content from the very outset.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
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A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
This module aims:
You will know and understand the essentials of the acoustics of speech, including:
You will know and understand the essentials of speech perception, including:
You will know and understand some of the issues in data collection, including:
By the end of the module, you will be able to do the following things:
Students on the module are initially introduced to basic concepts in acoustics, such as periodic vs. aperiodic sound, resonance, harmonic vibration, acoustic filters, and the principles of Fourier analysis. They will build on this knowledge by exploring the fundamentals of source-filter theory, and by modelling the human vocal tract using the two-tube model. They will create artificial vowel-like sounds using electronic speech synthesis, and will learn to interpret visual displays (pressure waveforms, spectra, spectrograms, formant and F0 traces). They will acquire familiarity with the principles of signal analysis/processing, and by practising with audio capture techniques will come to understand the effects that changes in sampling rate, bit depth, and compression have on the resulting audio quality. In the final part of the module they are introduced to human hearing through learning about the structure and functions of the middle and inner ear, and will gain insights into how incoming audio signals are processed by the auditory cortex, giving rise to phenomena such as categorical perception and speech-related auditory illusions.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Open Examination | 100 |
None
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Open Examination | 100 |
Formative assignments: within 1 week of submission, students receive written individual feedback on their lab reports, as well as generalised verbal feedback to the group as a whole during class time. Comprehensive written guidance notes are also provided via the module VLE site.
Open examination: students are provided with written feedback on their open examination scripts which they can download from e:vision. They are invited to contact the module convener if they would like further verbal feedback on their performance in this part of the assessment. Written guidance notes are also provided on the module VLE site.
Hewlett, N. & Beck, J.M. (2006). An Introduction to the Science of Phonetics. London: Routledge.
Johnson, K. (2012). Acoustic and Auditory Phonetics, 3rd edn. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.
Ladefoged, P. (1996). Elements of Acoustic Phonetics, 2nd edn. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Pickett, J.M. (1999). The Acoustics of Speech Communication: Fundamentals, Speech Perception Theory, and Technology. London: Pearson Education.
Raphael, L.J., Borden, G.J. & Harris, K.S. (2012). Speech Science Primer: Physiology, Acoustics, and Perception of Speech, 6th edn. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.