This syllabus is updated after each day's class.
Use it to keep track of what we've done and where we're going.
See also the schedule of topics for a general overview.
[01] M Jan 9
- Covered: Introduction to the course
- Handout - Course description and policies
- Handout - Course objectives
- Readings: see Sakai [Resources > Readings]
- For phonetics review: Hayes (2009), Ch 1
- For Wednesday's class: Kenstowicz & Kisseberth (1979), Ch 2 excerpt
- Prepare: Phonetics quiz on W Jan 18
- Study guide -- includes links to review handouts (Mon, 5:30pm: now slightly updated)
- FYI - IPA charts
[02] W Jan 11
- Covered: Motivating phonological theory; Predictable and contrastive information
- Discussion of Kenstowicz & Kisseberth (1979), ch 2 excerpts
- Practice: Predictable and unpredictable information
- Practice problems from U Delaware, via Susannah Kirby
- Prepare: Phonetics quiz on W Jan 18
- Study guide -- includes links to review handouts
- Reading: Odden (2005) ch 4, sec 4.1-4.3 -- Underlying representations | see Sakai [Resources > Readings]
- Discussion exercise (optional): Distribution: Practice
M Jan 16
-
No class -- Holiday
[03] W Jan 18
- Covered: Phonological analysis basics | Phonetics quiz
- Discussion of Distribution: Practice
- Handout - Determining the distribution of segments in a language (reviews the discussion from the last two classes)
- Assignment: PS#1 (Lhasa Tibetan), due M Jan 23
[04] M Jan 23
- Covered:
- Discussion of PS#1 (Lhasa Tibetan); predictable and unpredictable information
- Introduction to distinctive-feature theory
- Reading: see Sakai [Resources > Readings]
- McCarthy (2001) -- Distinctive features
- Hall (2007) -- Segmental features
- Reading guide - Fill this in and use it as a reference for distinctive features for the rest of this course
- Discussion exercise: Distinctive features and natural classes
- Try to state the relevant natural classes in terms of Hall's feature set
- Identify any problems or complications that come up
[05] W Jan 25
- Covered: The feature model summarized in Hall (2007), and some of its implications
- Today, we covered major-class features, laryngeal features, and manner features
- Next time: Place features (and vowels)
- Discussion exercise: Distinctive features and natural classes
- Try to state the relevant natural classes in terms of Hall's feature set
- Identify any problems or complications that come up
[06] M Jan 30
- Covered: The feature model summarized in Hall (2007), and some of its implications
- Today, we covered place features (and vowels)
- Discussion exercise: Next time, we will talk about some remaining issues from the Hall reading
- The implications of using a feature-geometry model at all (see Part V of supplemental reading guide)
- Alternative treatments of vowel features and complex segments
[07] W Feb 1
- Covered:
- Feature theory - Feature geometry, complex segments
- Structuring a phonological analysis write-up
- Assignment: PS #2 (Wolof), due M Feb 6
- Tips for writing up a phonological analysis
- Reading (optional for Mon): Zec (2007), sections 8.1-8.3 | see Sakai [Resources > Readings]
- Covered: Introduction to syllable structure (approximately sec 8.1-8.3 in Zec)
- DEs: Representing syllables and syllable structure, sections I-II
- Reading: Zec (2007), all | see Sakai [Resources > Readings]
- Reading guide [posted last class] -- work through discussion questions
- The "Day 1" section is generally a review of today's material
- Prepare to discuss the "Day 2" section on Wed
- Reading guide [posted last class] -- work through discussion questions
- Discussion exercise: Work through the rest of the "Representing syllables..." handout (section III) as you read section 8.4-8.6 in Zec
- Covered: Syllable structure and sonority (Zec 2007)
- Discussion exercises: These follow up on the Zec reading
- Assigment: PS #3 (Lebanese Arabic), due W Feb 15