VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – HO CHI MINH CITY

UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE

COURSE SYLLABUS
I. General information

1. Course title ENGLISH PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY

2. Course code NVA059.2
3. Type of course (compulsory, optional) Compulsory
4. Level of course Bachelor
5. Year of study (if applicable) 2
6. Semester when the course is delivered 4
3 (45 periods)
7. Number of course credits allocated 2 (1 theoretical credit + 1 practical credit)
Independent study: 60 hours

8. Name of lecturer(s) N/A

9. Mode of delivery (face-to-face, distance
learning) Face-to-face and distance learning

10. Prerequisites Students have completed the fundamental subjects and

‘Introduction to English Linguistics’.
11. Language of instruction English
12. Work placement(s) N/A

II. Course overview

The course is designed to provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge of English
Phonetics and Phonology. The first part of the course is mainly concerned with identifying and
describing the phonemes of English, and the second part goes on to look at larger units of speech such
as the syllable and at aspects of speech such as stress, rhythm, assimilation, elision, linking and
intonation.

III. Course learning outcomes

On completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. describe the nature and structures of English phonemes, syllables, stress, and functions of
intonation
2. apply the learned knowledge into English listening and speaking skills
3. synthesize the fundamental concepts and principles in English Phonetics and Phonology

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 4. develop creativity, problem solving and critical thinking skills
5. demonstrate positive attitudes to learning

IV. Recommended or required readings

Required reading:
● Roach, P. (2009). English phonetics and phonology: A practical course. (4th ed.). Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.

Supplementary readings:
● Fromkin, V. et al. (1984) An introduction to language (Australian edition). Singapore: Harcourt
Brace Jovanovich Group Pty Limited.
● Yule, G. (1996). The study of language. (4th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

V. Course contents and schedules

Sessions Course contents Required readings Planned learning

activities and
teaching methods
1. 1. Introduction Roach, P. (2009). Lecture and
1.1 Phonetics and phonology Chapter 1, pp. 1-7 discussion
1.2 The production of speech sounds Group presentation
+ Discussion +
2. English vowels Roach, P. (2009). Lecture + Practice:
2.1 Definition and characteristics Chapter 2-3, pp. 8-21 designing test
2.2 Distinguishing vowels from specifications
consonants
2.3 English short vowels
2.4 English long vowels
2.5 Diphthongs
2.6 Triphthongs
2. 3. English consonants Roach, P. (2009). Group presentation
3.1 Definition and characteristics Chapter 4, pp. 22-30 + Discussion +
3.2 Classification Chapter 6, pp. 39-45 Lecture + Practice:
Chapter 7, pp. 46-55 designing test
specifications
3. 4. The phoneme Roach, P. (2009). Group presentation
4.1 The phoneme Chapter 5, pp. 31-38 + Discussion +
4.2 Distinctive features Lecture + Practice:
4.3 Phonemes, phones, and designing test
allophones specifications
4.4 Complementary distribution
4.5 Phonemic transcription vs.
phonetic transcription
4. 5. The syllable Roach, P. (2009). Group presentation
5.1 The nature of the syllable Chapter 8, pp. 56-63 + Discussion +
5.2 The structure of the English Lecture + Practice:
syllable designing test
5.3 Syllable division specifications
Roach, P. (2009).
6. Strong and weak syllables Chapter 9, pp. 64-72
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 6.1 Strong and weak Group presentation
6.2 The ə vowel (“schwa”) + Discussion +
6.3 Close front and close back vowels Lecture + Practice:
6.4 Syllabic consonants designing test
specifications
5. 7. Stress in simple words Roach, P. (2009). Group presentation
7.1 The nature of stress Chapter 10, pp. 73-81 + Discussion +
7.2 Levels of stress Lecture + Practice:
7.3 Placement of stress within the designing test
word specifications
Roach, P. (2009).
8. Complex word stress Chapter 11, pp. 82-88 Group presentation
8.1 Complex words + Discussion +
8.2 Suffixes Lecture + Practice:
8.3 Prefixes designing test
8.4 Compound words specifications
8.5 Variable stress
8.6 Word-class pairs
Mid-term test (A1)
6. 9. Weak forms Roach, P. (2009). Group presentation
Chapter 12, pp. 89-96 + Discussion +
Lecture + Practice:
10. Aspects of connected speech (Part 1) Roach, P. (2009). designing test
10.1 Rhythm Chapter 14, pp. 107-118 specifications
10.2 Assimilation
10.3 Elision
10.4 Linking

7. 10. Aspects of connected speech (Part 2 Roach, P. (2009). Group presentation

+ Practice) Chapter 14, pp. 107-118 + Discussion +
10.1 Rhythm Lecture + Practice:
10.2 Assimilation designing test
10.3 Elision specifications
10.4 Linking
8. 11. Intonation Roach, P. (2009). Group presentation
11.1 Form and function in intonation Chapter 15, pp. 119-128 + Discussion +
11.2 Tone and tone languages Chapter 16, pp. 129-135 Lecture + Practice:
11.3 Complex tones and pitch height designing test
11.4 Some functions of English tones specifications
11.5 The tone-unit
11.6 The structure of the tone-unit
11.7 Pitch possibilities in the
tone-unit

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9. 12. Functions of intonation Roach, P. (2009). Group presentation
12.1 The attitudinal function of Chapter 18, pp. 146-152 + Discussion +
intonation Chapter 19, pp. 153-160 Lecture + Practice:
12.2 The accentual function of designing test
intonation specifications
12.3 The grammatical function of
intonation
12.4 The discourse function of
intonation

VI. Assessment scheme

Assessment tasks Scores Weighting

A1. Mid-term test 10pts (80%)

Midterm-term score 30%
A2. Class activities 10pts (20%)
A3. Final test 10pts Final score 70%
100% (Passing Grade: 5/10)

(See detailed rubrics attached.)

VII. Course alignment matrix

Course learning outcomes (CLOs) Programme Teaching and Assessment

learning outcomes learning activities tasks
(PLOs)
CLO1- Describe the nature and PLO2- L2 L, D, & GP A1+A2+A3
structures of English phonemes,
syllables, stress, and functions of
intonation.

CLO2- Apply the learned knowledge PLO2- L2 L, D, & GP A2

into English listening and speaking
skills.

CLO3- Synthesize the fundamental PLO2- L2 L, D, & GP A1+A2+A3

concepts and principles in English
Phonetics and Phonology.

CLO4- Develop creativity, problem PLO4- L2 D,GP,&P A1+A2+A3

solving and critical thinking skills
CLO5- Demonstrate positive attitudes PLO6- L2 D,GP,&P A2
to learning
(Note: L = Lecture, D = Discussion, GP = Group presentation, and P = Practice)

VIII. Course policies

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Attendance Policy: Attendance in all sessions is strongly recommended. Participants are required to
give advance notice of their absence in case of illness or any other situations. However, 80% is the
minimum attendance required for a student to take the final test.
Professionalism Policy: Students are expected to be well prepared and take an active role in class
discussions and work collaboratively with their peers.
Academic Integrity: Forms of plagiarism and cheating will lead to a failing grade or zero on
the assignment or test.

Date of approval: January 2021

Approved by Designed by
Department of English Linguistics

Nguyen Dang Nguyen, Ph.D.

Dean, Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature