English phonetics and phonology 15-FIF-NA-12

(First semester of a two semester course. Continued as 15-FIF-NA-22 in the second semester.)

The aim of this course is to give students a thorough overview of English phonetics and phonology. There is also some discussion of the sounds of other languages (especially Polish).

This kind of knowledge is essential for Faculty of English students – as prospective language professionals – for several reasons:

– it will enable the students to consciously control their own English pronunciation; this is useful in the Pronunciation Practice classes, General English classes, and General English final exam interviews at the Faculty of English; it is also useful in any other situation where speaking English, especially in public (e.g. as a teacher, interpreter or spokesperson etc.), is required;
– it will enable the students to detect, analyse and possibly correct the pronunciation errors of their own future students if they decide to choose a teaching career;
– for those who end up choosing a linguistics BA/MA seminar, the course also serves as the first introduction to the specialised terminology and argumentation of linguistics.

Note that the course works on the assumption that the students start with a good proficiency in English, and their aim is to work with English professionally (as a teacher, interpreter, linguist etc.), rather than simply use English to communicate in everyday life.