English Pronunciation (ENG122)

Content

The course focuses on several broad topics within the field of English pronunciation. The central course components include consonant and vowel production in England (RP) and the United States (GA) and their relation to spelling as well as their phonemic transcription. Further features covered are word stress, connected speech and intonation. Due to the relevance of the concepts introduced during the course for students' overall communicative competence, special attention will be given to their ability to recognize and interpret various phenomena of speech sound distinctions, connected speech, and different intonation patterns in English, as well as to their ability to produce them in their own speech.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

By the end of the course, the students will have gained knowledge of:

• central themes, theories, processes, and methods within the subject area  

• the English sound system

• the processes of English connected speech

• the main intonation patterns in English and their functions

• the differences between British English and American English pronunciation based on the model accents Received Pronunciation (RP) and General American (GA)

• the most common problems in the acquisition of English pronunciation, with special reference to Norwegian learners

Skills

By the end of the course, the students will be able to:

• explain how English sounds are articulated

• read and produce phonemic transcriptions

• identify processes that take place in English connected speech

• explain the basic functions of English intonation

• distinguish between the RP and GA accents and describe the main differences between them

• explain why certain aspects of English pronunciation may cause problems to second-language learners, especially Norwegian ones

General competence

By the end of the course, the students will be able to:

• understand how speech sounds are used to create meaning

• apply their knowledge of the English sound system to improve their own pronunciation

Required prerequisite knowledge

Recommended prerequisites

The course presupposes a solid command of written and spoken English.

Exam

Coursework requirements

• Two short home assignments (1-2 pages)

• Attendance of at least five group seminars

In order to take the exam, the assignments and attendance must be completed.

If the assignment is assessed as not approved on the first attempt, students are given one opportunity to submit a revised assignment.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Study Adviser:

Study Adviser:

Method of work

A combination of lectures and group seminars. Independent work on exercises.

Open for

Open course for all students with an active right to study and who meet the requirements for general university admissions certification (GSK).

Course assessment

Literature