Spanish Phonetics

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Phonetics is the systematic study of the speech sounds that occur in human language. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles of phonetic analysis, with attention to how Spanish sounds are produced, the patterns into which they fall, and the changes they undergo in different environments. Throughout the course, contrasts between the Spanish and English sound systems will be pointed out in order to make students aware of differences and help them improve their own pronunciation. The course will conclude with an introduction to Spanish suprasegmentals (syllable, stress, and intonation) and to major differences between Peninsular and American dialects. **This course counts toward the social science requirement as a linguistic course.