Contrastive American-British Phonology 3301-JF1612
The course begins with a discussion of the main differnces in vocabulary, spelling and grammar between American and British English. Focus on the major American and British accents. A comparison of the vowel and consonant systems of General American and Received Pronunciation. We learn to recognize and transcribe in both accents. We describe several regional American English accents, spoken in New York City, southern, and New England. We analyze several characteristic phonological processes in General American and Received Pronunciation.
1. comparison of vocabulary
2. main differences in spelling
3. main differences in grammar
4. comparison of consonant systems
5. comparison of vowel systems
6. selected phonological processes in each accent, including rhoticity, flapping, tapping and nasalization.
7. New York City accent
8. southern accent
9. New England accent
10. social attitudes to regional accents
11. linguistic purism
12. identifying accents on the basis of recordings
Type of course
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
After completing the course the student:
KNOWLEDGE
1. knows the differences between the usage of English in the US and the UK.
2. is aware of the existance of many varieties of English
3. is aware of the norms and attitudes towards accents and dialects.
4. is aware of the fact that the standard British accent (Received Pronunciation) is not the only accepted accent for a non-native speaker of English.
SKILLS
1. can identify the main accents of English
2. can understand the speakers of regional varieties of English.
3. can transcribe in both accents.
Language training level B2+.
Assessment criteria
Final test consisting of both essay and choice questions.
Maximum 2 absences are allowed per semester.
The form and criteria of the assessment may change depending on the current epidemic situation. Equivalent credit conditions will be established in consultation with the course participants and in accordance with the guidelines in force at the University of Warsaw.
Bibliography
McCarthy, M., F. O’Dell “English Vocabulary in Use” Cambridge University Press, 1994
Hewings, M. “Advanced Grammar in Use” Cambridge University Press, 1999
Hughes, A., P. Trudgill, D. Watt “English Accents and Dialects: An Introduction to Social and Regional Varieties of English in the British Isles”, Hodder Arnold, 2005
Wells, J.C. “Accents of English” Cambridge University Press 1982
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: