2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

FREN1041 The Sounds of French

10 creditsClass Size: 24

Module manager: Dr Nigel Armstrong
Email: N.R.Armstrong@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

Grade B in French at A level, or equivalent

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module will introduce you to the study of the sounds of French from the perspective of phonetics. This is intended to provide: a tool for the description of the modern standard spoken language, an understanding of the way the individual sounds of French are produced and classified and how they operate as a system, a guide to improved pronunciation. Lectures will consider questions such as: - What is the point of reference for a description of modern standard French? - Why is it necessary to use a special transcription system for the spoken language? - What are the specific sounds that make up the French language? - How can these be described and classified? - What are some of the major articulatory differences between French and English?

Objectives

The introduction to the study of the Sounds of French (via an introduction to Phonetics) is designed to give students a tool for the description of the spoken language, an understanding of the way the sounds of French operate as a system, and a guide of improved pronunciation.

At the end of the course students should be able to:
1) use the conventional IPA transcription system for the transcription of spoken utterances
2) describe the articulation of a particular sound of French
3) demonstrate an awareness of some of the major principles characterising the pronunciation of French.

Syllabus

The lectures (6) will consider questions such as:
- What are the specific sounds that make up the French language?
- Why is it necessary to use a special transcription system for the spoken language?
- How can these sounds be described and classified?
- How are the sound-units of French organised into a system?
- What are some of the major articulatory differences between French and English?

The four seminar sessions will provide an opportunity for practical transcription exercises and further discussion of material covered in the lectures.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	4	1.00	4.00
Private study hours			86.00
Total Contact hours			14.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

- Background reading
- Preparation for classes
- Preparation for assessment.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Two optional practice assignments, distributed in weeks 6 and 9.

Methods of assessment

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 02/03/2018 17:22:50

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD