Prosodie de l’anglais parlé

The course offers an introduction to English intonation from a theoretical and a practical point of view.

• Theory: students are introduced to the 3 key notions of tonality, tonicity and tone, and examine how intonation patterns contribute to the production of meaning in spoken English.
• Practice: students acquire and perfect the basic intonation patterns of the language, thus improving their level of spoken English.

Developing students' insight into the prosody of the language and how this contributes to the production of (pragmatic) meaning.
Broadening students' terminological and theoretical repertoire in the field of (supra)segmental phonetics.
Highlighting the importance of information distribution in the production of spoken discourse.
Highlighting the importance of (linguistic) context in the production of spoken discourse.
Making students aware of subtle variations and differences in spoken discourse (e.g. what is being said vs. how it is being said). 
Improving students' level of spoken English by acquiring a more native sounding "accent".

 

Required and Corequired knowledge and skills

GERM-B200	CEFRL
Oral production	B1+
Written production	B1
Listening comprehension	B2-
Reading comprehension	B2-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_European_Framework_of_Reference_for_LanguagesThis course requires a basic understanding of phonetics, syntax and pragmatics:
 

GERM-B100	English linguistics I - For programmes bachelor in modern languages and letters : german, dutch and english (unit 2), bachelor in modern languages and letters : general (unit 2), master in modern languages and letters : german, dutch and english (focus Third language/unit 2) and master in modern languages and letters : general (focus Third language/unit 2)
	5 credits - Philippe DE BRABANTER (Coordinator)

GERM-B200	English linguistics II - For all programmes
	10 credits - Philippe DE BRABANTER (Coordinator)

 

Weekly lectures and in-class exercises (2 credits)

Group paper (3 credits)

Contribution to the teaching profile

1. Training students in the process of critical thinking (by insisting on precise terminology and rigorous analysis).

2. Mastering the spoken and written practice of the languages ​​studied.

3. Understanding the social dimension of languages ​​and relating discourse to social facts.

4. Training students in the scientific method (see point 1)

• 4.1. Planning and following up the stages of a scientific analysis
• 4.2. Demonstrating a spirit of autonomy and the ability to collaborate

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Wells, J.C. 2006. English Intonation: An Introduction, C.U.P.

Huddleston, R., G.K. Pullum, B Reynolds 2021. A Student's Introduction to English Grammar, C.U.P., 2nd ed.

Course notes

• Université virtuelle

Contacts

MAIL : Gregory.Watson@ulb.be
TEL : 02/650.38.12
OFFICE: AZ4.109 - Appointments by e-mail.

Campus

Solbosch

Method(s) of evaluation

• Group work

Group work

Group paper with intermediate deadlines (possibility of oral defence/presentation).

Students hand in a group paper at the end of the term.

Possibility of intermediate feedback at several moments throughout the term

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

The paper counts for 100% of the final mark for the course.

Language(s) of evaluation

• english