Sounds of a Language
Mini Fieldwork Homework
Homework on Phonetic Contrasts in a Language (that is not your own)
You will work with a classmate, friend or acquaintance (old or new) to document several phonetic contrasts used in their native language. This person will be referred to below as your "Consultant." The two requirements are that (1) your Consultant must be a fluent native speaker of a language that you do not speak (if you have learned it in school, that is okay however), and (2) you may not do this assignment on English as your demonstration language.
Your Consultant must give their permission for you to record them saying the example words. If they do not wish to, you'll need to find a different Consultant to work with. The recordings will be turned in to your Professor but are not to be used, distributed, or shared in any other way (of course if your Consultant wants a copy of their own demonstration, that is fine). To make the recording, it is best if you say each word first in English, followed by your Consultant then saying their native word. Make sure your speaker is reasonable close to the microphone. The recording should follow the same order as your write up (below).
You can (optionally) research the phonetic inventory of their language. But you will need to come up with some original examples that are not found in the material you consult. The source for any examples taken from material you consult must be cited.
Plan to work together in a quiet place where you can hear your consultant well. Take notes with a pencil and paper, and have your IPA chart handy. You will certainly need to ask them to pronounce words multiple times as you work on the correct transcription. You will probably need to refine your transcription on your own later using the recording you make.
Section One: Information
Note: You may print this page and do your work on it to turn in, or you can accurately re-create it on your own piece of paper to turn in (please retain the same organization/layout). Alternatively, you can create an Word doc (feel free to copy and paste the below) and type in the phonetic symbols. (On a mac the Phonetic Alphabet in the Character Viewer is helpful [Keyboard preferences: "Show keyboard and emoji viewers in menu bar;" then from menu bar select "Show Emojis and Symbols; customize with gear at upper left; add Phonetic Alphabet and the select it for choices].)
This is my native or fluent second language(s): _____________________.
This is my Consultant's native language(s): _____________________.
This is the City and Country in which my Consultant learned their native language: ______________________.
Section Two: Minimal pairs that demonstrate three Consonant Contrasts
Find three pairs of words--minimal pairs--demonstrating three different parameters of phonetic contrast that we learned in class for consonants. At least one of these must be a specific contrast that does not occur in English. As a reminder these might include: Place, Manner, Voicing, Voice Quality, Length, Airstream Mechanism. The rest of the word should remain non-varying, or at least as constant as possible. This will probably be easiest if the consonant being demonstrated is the first sound in the word, but this is not required.
You will turn in the table below AND an audio recording of the three word pairs spoken by your Consultant. You will prompt each word in the recording with its English translation.
Parameter of Contrast & its Specification
English translation for Word 1 (& native language orthography if possible)
IPA for Word 1
English translation for Word 2 (& native language orthography if possible)
IPA for Word 2
(Example Minimal Pair (from English); you will do the same for the language you are investigating:
Place of Articulation--bilabial vs. velar: pedal [pɛdl] kettle [kɛdl] )
Minimal Pairs:
1.
2.
3.
Section Two: Minimal pairs that demonstrate three Vowel Contrasts
Find three pairs of words--minimal pairs--demonstrating three different parameters of phonetic contrast that we learned in class for Vowels. Bonus if one is specific contrast that does not occur in English. As a reminder these might include: Height, Backness, Rounding, Nasalization, Length, Tone, Voice Quality. The rest of the word should remain non-varying, or at least as constant as possible. This will probably be easiest if two words are monosyllables (single syllable words), but this is not required.
You will turn in the table below AND an audio recording of the three word pairs spoken by your Consultant. You will prompt each word in the recording with its English translation.
Parameter of Contrast & its Specification
English translation for Word 1 (& native language orthography if possible)
IPA for Word 1
English translation for Word 2 (& native language orthography if possible)
IPA for Word 2
(Example Minimal Pair (from English); you will do the same for the language you are investigating:
Vowel Height--High vs. Low: keep [kip] cap [kæp] )
Minimal Pairs:
1.
2.
3.
In summary, you will turn in six word pairs—three demonstrating consonants and three demonstrating vowels—with their English translation and the IPA transcription of each word as spoken by your Consultant in their native language. Your will also turn in an audio (or audio-video) recording of your Consultant demonstrating saying each of these 12 words, following the same order as the written text being submitted.