SPAN 480DSpanish Phonetics & Phonology

Catalog

This course will provide a systematic review of the Spanish sound system from the fields of phonetics, or how sounds are articulated, and phonology, or how sounds fit together in speech. Reviewing a number of Spanish dialects will allow us to understand how the language varies throughout the Spanish-speaking world. We will also examine the sound system of English, so as to explore the particular difficulties that sounds of Spanish present to English-speaking learners of the language. Additionally, this course will be practical for both second language learners as well as heritage and native speakers of Spanish, for both groups will acquire a greater understanding of the fields of phonetics and phonology in relation to the Spanish language. Second language learners will achieve a greater mastery of Spanish pronunciation, providing them with the ability to continuously improve their pronunciation beyond this course. Native and heritage speakers will also benefit from this course by becoming cognizant of regional variation. The course will be conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: a Spanish course at the 300-level, preferably 351.