Rajka Smiljanic

Linguistics 344 is an introduction to the sound structure of language. We will learn to describe speech sounds in the three domains of speech: the articulatory domain (how speech sounds are produced in the human vocal tract), the acoustic domain (their form in the acoustic medium), and the perceptual domain (how listeners process the incoming speech signal). We will explore how the sounds differ across various dialects of English and across the world's languages. We will learn how children acquire the sounds system of their language and how language experience shapes that acquisition. Finally, we will address topics, such as second language acquisition and current speech technology as it applies to computerized speech synthesis and speech recognition.

Linguistics 344 is an introduction to the sound structure of language. We will learn to describe speech sounds in the three domains of speech: the articulatory domain (how speech sounds are produced in the human vocal tract), the acoustic domain (their form in the acoustic medium), and the perceptual domain (how listeners process the incoming speech signal). We will explore how the sounds differ across various dialects of English and across the world's languages. We will learn how children acquire the sounds system of their language and how language experience shapes that acquisition. Finally, we will address topics, such as second language acquisition and current speech technology as it applies to computerized speech synthesis and speech recognition. 

Linguistics 381M covers topics in articulatory and acoustic phonetics, and in speech perception. The overall goal of this course is to describe the essential factors that control and constrain the production and perception of speech. The students will learn about the speech production mechanism and the acoustic theory of speech production. In discussing speech production, we will discuss the anatomical, physiological, aerodynamic, and other factors that underlie the articulatory movements yielding the acoustic speech waveform. The acoustic correlates of speech sounds and acoustic-phonetic features of connected speech and prosody are covered. We will also address the perception of speech signals including such topics as phonetic categorization, speech perception and linguistic experience, and the role of speech perception in phonology. In all areas a historical perspective will be provided, discussing some of the major research studies that formed the basis for today’s theoretical positions on speech motor control and the non-invariance issue in speech production/perception. Lab sessions will introduce students to techniques for sound recording, digitization, and waveform and spectrographic analysis using the Praat program for digital speech analysis.

Issues in Speech Intelligibility. This is an upper division undergraduate course in which we will cover some of the main empirical findings on talker-, listener-, and signal-related factors that shape speech intelligibility, i.e., the degree to which spoken language can be comprehended. We will explore how signal-related (physical), peripheral (auditory-perceptual) and system-related (mental) factors condition variation in both the production and perception of intelligible speech. Variation due to individual differences, hearing impairment, noise, native language background, foreign accent, and ageing, among others, will be discussed. We will also examine how variation in intelligibility conditions different levels of spoken language processing and different tasks that the listener is performing during spoken language comprehension. To help us gain insights into the sources of intelligibility variation, we will consider research paradigms and findings from experimental phonetics, speech science and psycholinguistics. A major component of the course will involve students working in small groups on analyzing speech of various levels of intelligibility and designing and carrying out a perception experiment. The students will be presenting the findings to the class and writing lab reports.

Issues in Phonetics: Topics in Perception

This is a research seminar which provides an overview of the theories and empirical findings on human speech perception and recognition. Topics include an overview of phonetics, phonetic categorization, speech perception and linguistic experience, intermodal perception of speech, and the interaction between speech perception and production. Additional topics include talker, listener, rate, intelligibility, and dialect variability. A major component of the course will involve students working in small groups to design and conduct a perception experiment.

PREREQUISITES: Introduction to Phonetics course, or permission of the instructor.

Linguistics 344 is an introduction to the sound structure of language. We will learn to describe speech sounds in the three domains of speech: the articulatory domain (how speech sounds are produced in the human vocal tract), the acoustic domain (their form in the acoustic medium), and the perceptual domain (how listeners process the incoming speech signal). We will explore how the sounds differ across various dialects of English and across the world's languages. We will learn how children acquire the sounds system of their language and how language experience shapes that acquisition. Finally, we will address topics, such as second language acquisition and current speech technology as it applies to computerized speech synthesis and speech recognition.

Linguistics 381M covers topics in articulatory and acoustic phonetics, and in speech perception. The overall goal of this course is to describe the essential factors that control and constrain the production and perception of speech. The students will learn about the speech production mechanism and the acoustic theory of speech production. In discussing speech production, we will discuss the anatomical, physiological, aerodynamic, and other factors that underlie the articulatory movements yielding the acoustic speech waveform. The acoustic correlates of speech sounds and acoustic-phonetic features of connected speech and prosody are covered. We will also address the perception of speech signals including such topics as phonetic categorization, speech perception and linguistic experience, and the role of speech perception in phonology. In all areas a historical perspective will be provided, discussing some of the major research studies that formed the basis for today’s theoretical positions on speech motor control and the non-invariance issue in speech production/perception. Lab sessions will introduce students to techniques for sound recording, digitization, and waveform and spectrographic analysis using the Praat program for digital speech analysis. 

This is a research seminar in which we will cover some of the main empirical findings on talker-, listener-, and signal-related factors that shape speech intelligibility, i.e., the degree to which spoken language can be comprehended. We will explore how signal-related (physical), peripheral (auditory-perceptual) and system-related (mental) factors condition variation in both the production and perception of intelligible speech. Variation due to individual differences, hearing impairment, noise, native language background, foreign accent, and ageing, among others, will be discussed. We will also examine how variation in intelligibility conditions different levels of spoken language processing and different tasks that the listener is performing during spoken language comprehension. To help us gain insights into the sources of intelligibility variation, we will consider research paradigms and findings from experimental phonetics, speech science and psycholinguistics. We will discuss the implications of these findings for theories and models of first and second language speech production and perception.A major component of the course will involve students working either individually or in small groups to design and compile a speech database. This database will be used for acoustic analyses and for perception experiments addressing variation in speech intelligibility.PREREQUISITES: Intro to Phonetics course, or permission of the instructor.

Linguistics 344 is an introduction to the sound structure of language. We will learn to describe speech sounds in the three domains of speech: the articulatory domain (how speech sounds are produced in the human vocal tract), the acoustic domain (their form in the acoustic medium), and the perceptual domain (how listeners process the incoming speech signal). We will explore how the sounds differ across various dialects of English and across the world's languages. We will learn how children acquire the sounds system of their language and how language experience shapes that acquisition. Finally, we will address topics, such as second language acquisition and current speech technology as it applies to computerized speech synthesis and speech recognition.

Linguistics 381M covers topics in articulatory and acoustic phonetics, and in speech perception. The overall goal of this course is to describe the essential factors that control and constrain the production and perception of speech. The students will learn about the speech production mechanism and the acoustic theory of speech production. In discussing speech production, we will discuss the anatomical, physiological, aerodynamic, and other factors that underlie the articulatory movements yielding the acoustic speech waveform. The acoustic correlates of speech sounds and acoustic-phonetic features of connected speech and prosody are covered. We will also address the perception of speech signals including such topics as phonetic categorization, speech perception and linguistic experience, and the role of speech perception in phonology. In all areas a historical perspective will be provided, discussing some of the major research studies that formed the basis for today’s theoretical positions on speech motor control and the non-invariance issue in speech production/perception. Lab sessions will introduce students to techniques for sound recording, digitization, and waveform and spectrographic analysis using the Praat program for digital speech analysis.

For detailed Course Schedule, download attachment.

For detailed Course Schedule, download attachment.

Linguistics 344 is an introduction to the sound structure of language. We will learn to describe speech sounds in the three domains of speech: the articulatory domain (how speech sounds are produced in the human vocal tract), the acoustic domain (their form in the acoustic medium), and the perceptual domain (how listeners process the incoming speech signal). We will explore how the sounds differ across various dialects of English and across the world's languages. We will learn how children acquire the sounds system of their language and how language experience shapes that acquisition. Finally, we will address topics, such as second language acquisition and current speech technology as it applies to computerized speech synthesis and speech recognition.