AJL52093 Pronunciation Varieties of American English

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Kateřina Tomková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Kateřina Tomková, Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Fri 10:00–11:40 G32
Prerequisites
Ideally, this course is taken after, or simultaneously with Pronunciation Varieties of English.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 1/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Apart from being able to discern where in the U.S. a particular speaker is from, the students should also increase their awareness of all the social implications a particular way of speaking has, as well as of the historical reasons for today´s pronunciations. Other aspects of speaking behaviour will also be dealt with.
Learning outcomes
On completing the course a student will be able to - see speech behaviour in wider historical, geographical, phonetic and social consequences - discern and give phonetic descriptions of various regional, social and standard forms of American English - improves and strengthens his/her own speech habits speaking English.
Syllabus
  • Week 1 - American English: development and standards. Hitherto sociolinguistic research (Labov). Week 2 - General American, The East Coast (NYC, Boston). Week 3 - West Coast, Canada, The MidWest. Week 4 - U.S. South, Tex-Mex, Caribbean, AAVE. Week 5 - Overseas varieties in Asia (the Philippines, Singapore) and in the Pacific (Hawaii). Week 6 - Discussions with guests, course assessment.
Literature
    required literature
  • Recordings of American English on YouTube and other online sources.
    recommended literature
  • MEIER, Paul. Accents and dialects for stage and screen : an instruction manual for 24 accents and dialects commonly used by English-speaking actors. Lawrence, Kan.: Paul Meier Dialect Services, 2010, 354 s. ISBN 9780578004525. info
  • GIMSON, A.Ch. Gimson’s Pronunciation of English. London. Arnold, 2008. info
  • WELLS, J. C. Accents of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982, xix, 467-6. ISBN 0521297192. info
  • TRUDGILL, Peter and Jean HANNAH. International English :a guide to varietes of standard English. London: Edward Arnold, 1982, xiii, 130. ISBN 0-7131-6362-3. info
Teaching methods
Teacher's lectures, students' presentations, recommendations for independent listening.
Assessment methods
Points for overall assessment (60pts the cut-off point): active attendance 30pts, contributions (up to 20pts) and final test (max. 50pts).
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
Teacher's information
http://www.is.muni.cz
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2021/AJL52093