ENG1103 – English Phonetics and Intonation
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Choose semester
Course content
The course provides an introduction to English phonetics and intonation as well as insight into the description and comparison of two varieties of English:
- Received Pronunciation (British English)
- General American (American English)
The students can choose which variety they want to concentrate on, and should select a group accordingly. Comparison between Norwegian and English is also an important aspect of the course. The course includes components both of knowledge and of practical skills.
Learning outcome
After completing this course you will:
- possess knowledge and awareness of English phonetics,
- know how to apply technical terms to describe and analyse English pronunciation, so that you can read and produce phonemic transcriptions and intonation transcriptions,
- be familiar with basic English intonation patterns and how they carry meaning,
- have a pronunciation which is less affected by Norwegian or other non-English articulation and intonation, through insight combined with practice.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Lectures are open to the public. Seminar teaching requires admission to the course.
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
The course assumes a good proficiency in written and oral English.
Overlapping courses
5 credits overlap with ENG1101 – English Phonetics and Intonation, An Introduction (discontinued)
Teaching
One hour lecture and two hour group sessions per week for 14 weeks, 42 hours in all.
Teaching in Received Pronunciation (British English) and General American (American English) is partly given separately in the groups. The students should therefore choose a group according to their choice of accent.
Students are expected to participate actively through preparation for group activities in general and through application of the analytical tools to language data. The group sessions include ear-training through phonemic and intonation dictations. Students are also expected to make independent use of the Listening Centre (2nd floor HW building) each week to practice transcription, ear-training and pronunciation.
Obligatory activities:
- Attendance is obligatory (at least 11 out of 14 group sessions).
- In order to be allowed to sit the examination, all students must receive a pass mark on (a) a pronunciation test, (b) a test in phonemic dictation, including theoretical questions regarding the classification of vowels and consonants, and (c) a written paper.
- Additional absences must be justified to the exam coordinator. Read more about rules concerning valid excuses and how to apply for approved absences or postponements. Please note that absence exceeding 50 % of all seminars may not be approved, regardless of any excuses.
Examination
The final assessment is based on a 20-minute oral exam, testing the students’ knowledge of phonetic theory and of the phonological system and intonation system of English, as well as the candidates’ own command of English pronunciation and intonation. The final assessment in this course has previously been a written exam; links to old exam questions are found below.
Previous exam papers in ENG1101, which the present course replaces.
Previous exam papers in ENG1103
Assessment guidelines for ENG1103
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Once the course requirements have been fulfilled, they remain valid for the current and the next two semesters that the course is taught.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.