Phonetics and phonology are two branches of linguistics, and they deal with speech sounds' production aspects. In ESL (English as a second language) and EFL (English as a foreign language) contexts, both scientific fields have received much attention due to spread of English all over the world by the 20th century, and people‘s desire to be a part of its community.
In ESL and EFL learning context, phonetics and phonology help learners to develop their target language primary skills; especially aural-oral ones (listening and speaking). The course which is entitled “Phonetics and Phonology ” allows ESP (English for Specific Purposes) learners to be familiar speech production phases, speech mechanisms. It also provides them with a detailed description regarding the way English sounds are articulated with reference to speech organs.
The course is divided into three parts or lectures ; the first part is entitled "an Introduction to Phonetics" deals with phonetics as a science , identifies its branches, and explains its interrelationship with phonology. The second one is entitled " Mechanisms of Speech sounds" ,it depicts the phases of speech production process and the speech organs involved within (their functions). However, the last part entitled "Articulation of English Sounds" explores the most important course issues by introducing the way we articulate English speech sounds and the way we phonetically transcribe them.
By dealing with this course, ESP learners are required to acquire competences that serve their target language learning at its basis i.e. language basic sounds and basic form (oral form), this on the one hand. On the other hand, learners are allowed to enrich their knowledge in terms of theory and practice, since the course provides concepts/ notions that describe systems and processes involved in speech sounds’ production , then their appliance (activating of speech organs/mechanisms) in the relevant context (English Speech sounds articulation).
Target audience: First year (1st ) Science of Matter (Common Core).
General objectives of the course :
- Having an overview about phonetics and phonology
- Being familiar with speech production process.
- Identifying speech mechanisms and their functions.
- Identifying English speech sounds' categories.
- Articulating English sounds accurately.
- Transcribing words correctly.
- Dr: Fatiha Belhadj