Pronunciation and Intonation - British English

Sprachlernseminar

Requirements:
Regular participation, homework and tests
(1) Written Exam – 50% 
(2) Presentation – 50%

Students must choose between British and American English but the course content is very similar. In this Pronunciation and Intonation course we aim to identify the students’ problem areas, tune in students’ ears to pronunciation style and speech rhythm (stress patterns, weak forms, linking), provide practical information on articulatory phonetics and (some) phonology of English, practise interpreting and writing passages in phonetic script, identify characteristic segmental and suprasegmental features in given (oral and/or written) passages, establish islands of perfection (speaking complex passages in near-perfect form) as stepping-stones to progress and improvement. The skills and knowledge gained here will be developed in the year two Listening and Speaking course.

The course will have spoken and written assignments, and will involve 2 tests: (1) a written test on phonetic transcription and phonology (2) an oral test at the end of the semester.

Materials: “The Englang Pronunciation Course” book and 2 CDs (bring €18 to the first class) Course materials will be made available at ca €2.

Prerequisites: The Entry Test must have been passed.