Fall 2006

FR 324L • PRACTICAL PHONETICS

Course Description

This introductory course in French phonetics provides third-year students with an understanding of French sounds in isolation and in context. The basics of descriptive phonetics and phonetic notation are taught. Audio exercises will emphasize individual sounds such as nasal vowels, the /u/-/y/ constrast, the French /r/'s, etc., as well as prosodic features (intonation, syllabification, liaison, poetic recitation, etc.). The class is conducted in French.
Organization of the course.There are two basic components of the course.
Descriptive linguistics. The text offers linguistic descriptions of the phenomena you will be studying, e.g., liaison, e muet, nasalisation, enchaínement, etc.
  Practice in pronunciation and discrimination. With the background of linguistic description, you proceed to sharpen your pronunciation and auditory discrimination of French sounds. 

Grading Policy

Homework, attendance, preparedness, participation, quizzes 10%
Exam 1 (Chs. 1-2) 20%
Exam 2 (Chs. 3-4) 20%
Exam 3 (Chs. 5-6) 20%
Exam 4 (Ch. 7) 30%
* Since the chapters in Savoir Dire build upon each other, all exams after the first one are to some degree cumulative.
  * All exams will have an oral component. Some will have a comprehension/disrimination or diction component. 

Texts

D. Dansereau, Savoir Dire. Heath,1990. Available at the Co-Op.
  Packet of handouts, available at Paradigm, 402 W. 24th St. (472-7986)

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