Linguistics 526: Second Language Phonetics and Phonology
UNC-Chapel Hill Linguistics
Fall 2022
Elliott Moreton

2022 December 3 (Sat)

Final exam due, 11 a.m.

2022 December 1 (Th)

Final exam becomes available, 11 a.m.

2022 November 29 (Tu)

Topics: Project presentations

2022 November 22 (Tu)

Topics: Wrap-up

Class:

• What do we know that we didn't know before?
• What do we most need to find out next?
• Responding to reviews

Assignments:

• For 11/29 Tu: Project presentations in class
• For 11/30 W: Final draft due

2022 November 17 (Th)

Topics: UG transfer in L2 phonology?

Class:

• Discussion of Broselow, Chen, & Wang (1998), led by TA and AK
• HO: Giving peer review

Assignments:

• For 11/22 Tu: Peer-review another group's proposal
• For 11/29 Tu: Project presentations in class
• For 11/30 W: Final draft due

2022 November 15 (Tu)

Topics: Background for Broselow, Chen, and Wang (1998)

Class:

• Markedness
• The ``emergence of the unmarked'' in
  • Adult L1 phonology
  • Child L1 phonology
  • Adult L2 perception
• Report from Minister of Analysis

Assignment: Read Broselow, Chen, and Wang (1998), following the usual procedure (first abstract and introduction, then conclusions, then figures, then article).

• For 11/15 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 11/17 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion (led by AK and TA)
• A draft of the project proposal is due on 11/17 (Tu). Please see handouts of October 11 and November 8 for details (Sakai Resources).

2022 November 10 (Th)

Topics: Class discussion of Chang (2012)

Class:

• Chang (2012) discussion, led by EC and CN

Assignment: Read Broselow, Chen, and Wang (1998), following the usual procedure (first abstract and introduction, then conclusions, then figures, then article).

• For 11/14 (M): Post a question.
• For 11/15 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 11/17 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion (led by AK and TA)
• Minister of Analysis: Prepare progress report for 11/15 (Tu).
• A draft of the project proposal is due on 11/17 (Tu). Please see handouts of October 11 and November 8 for details (Sakai Resources).

2022 November 8 (Tu)

Topics: Background for Chang (2012)

Class:

• Chang 2012 background (HO, Sakai Resources)
• Update from Minister of Experiment

Assignment: Read Chang (2012), following the usual procedure (first abstract and introduction, then conclusions, then figures, then article).

• For 11/15 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 11/17 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion (either as a discusser, or as a leader).
• For 11/15 (Tu): Update from Minister of Analysis

2022 November 3 (Th)

Topics:Discussion of Berent et al. (2007)

Class:

• Discussion of article (led by PB, KB, GG)

• For 11/7 (M): Post a question.
• For 11/8 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 11/10 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion (led by EC and CN)
• Minister of Experiment: Prepare progress report for 11/8 (Tu).

2022 November 1 (Tu)

Topics: Background for Berent et al. (2007)

Class:

• Background handout for Berent et al. 2007 (Sakai Resources)
  • Where does natural-language typology come from?
  • Inductive bias and channel bias: Theories and evidence.
  • Phonetic and phonological memory
• Report from Minister of Design

Assignment: Read Berent et al. (2007), following the usual procedure.

• For 11/1 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 11/3 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion (led by PB, KB, GG).
• Minister of Experiment: Prepare to make a progress report on 11/8 (Tu).

2022 October 27 (Th)

Topics: Discussion of Darcy et al. (2007).

Class:

• Discussion of article, with handout (CB, JS, AR)

Assignment: Read Berent et al. (2007), following the usual procedure.

• For 11/1 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 11/3 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion (led by PB, KB, GG).
• Minister of Design: Prepare to make a progress report on 11/1 (Tu).

2022 October 25 (Tu)

Topics: Background for Darcy et al. (2007).

Class:

• Assimilation, and compensation for it.
• Three theories of compensation:
  • Lexical (mismatch tolerance)
  • Phonetic (incomplete neutralization)
  • Phonological (phonological inference)
• Reports from Minister of Literature

Assignment: Read Darcy et al. 2007, following the usual procedure.

• For 10/27 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion (led by CB, JS, AR).

2022 October 18 (Tu)

Topics: Discussion of de Leeuw et al 2021

Class:

• Discussion of article, with handout (TA, AK)

Assignment: Read Darcy et al. 2007, following the usual procedure.

• For 10/25 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 10/27 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion (led by CB, JS, AR).
• Minister of Literature: Prepare to make a progress report on 10/25 (Tu).

2022 October 13 (Th)

Topics: Discussion of Trapman and Kager 2009

Class:

• Discussion of article, with handout (EC, CN

Assignment: Read de Leeuw et al. 2021, with this variation:

• For 10/17 (M): Post a question, or a comment, or both.
• For 10/18 (Tu): Read paper and posts; prepare for class discussion.

2022 October 11 (Tu)

Topics: Midterm; research proposals

Class:

• Go over midterm.
• HO: Final-project proposals
• Groups meet about final projectss

Assignment: Read Trapman & Kager 2009, following the usual procedure.

• For 10/11 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 10/13 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion.

2022 October 6 (Th)

MIDTERM due at end of class

Assignment: Read Trapman & Kager 2009, following the usual procedure.

• For 10/10 (M): Post a question.
• For 10/11 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 10/13 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion.

Announcement: I've posted the remaining papers in the Forums section. Please post to claim a paper.

2022 October 4 (Tu)

Topics: Synthesis of papers read to date.

Class:

• Student-led discussion of common themes and disagreements (HO, Sakai Resources)
• (Last 5--10 minutes:) Midterm.

Assignment:

• For 10/4 (Tu): Read other people's questions, think about them, and post a reply to at least one of them.
• For 10/6 (Th): MIDTERM due at end of class on Thursday. The midterm is in the "Resources" folder on Sakai. Please return it to the Sakai Dropbox when finished.

2022 September 29 (Th)

Topics: Discussion of Takagi & Mann (1995).

Class:

• Discussion of article, with handout (KB, PB, GG)

• For 10/3 (M): Post questions that involve two or more of the papers.
• For 10/4 (Tu): Read other people's questions, think about them, and post a reply to at least one of them.

2022 September 27 (Tu)

Topics: Learning L2 perceptual cues (background for Takagi & Mann 1995)

Class:

• Different cues in L1 and L2 perception: Cebrian (2006)
• Reverse transfer? Rallo Fabra (2003)
• Perceptual learning and production learning: Bradlow et al. (1997)
• r/l audio examples here:
  • Natural English approximants
  • Synthetic la-ra scale
  • Effect of varying F3

Announcements:

• The take-home midterm will be available on Tuesday, October 4th, and will be due at the end of class on Thursday, October 6th (Thursday of next week).
• The assignment for Tuesday, October 4th, will be to synthesize what we've learned to date --- I'll give specific instructions as an assignment on Thursday, September 29th.

Assignment: Read Takagi & Mann 1995, following the usual procedure (first abstract and introduction, then conclusions, then figures, then article).

• For 09/28 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 09/29 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion (either as a discusser, or as leader: KB, GG, PB).

2022 September 22 (Th)

Topics: Discussion of Sebastán-Gallés et al. 2005

Class:

• Discussion of article, with handout or slides (AR, CB, JS).

Assignment: Read Takagi & Mann 1995, following the usual procedure (first abstract and introduction, then conclusions, then figures, then article).

• For 09/27 (M): Post a question.
• For 09/28 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 09/29 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion (either as a discusser, or as leader: KB, GG).

2022 September 20 (Tu)

Topics:Anatomy of an experimental study, as preparation for Sebastián-Gallés et al. 2005

Class:

• Typical structure of an experimental study: Big Question, Manageable Question, Hypotheses, Predictions, Experiment (independent and dependent variables), Results, Conclusions
• In-class dissections
• Applications to the semester project; to Monday questions, Tuesday reactions, and Thursday discussions

Assignment: Read Sebastián-Gallés et al. 2005, following the usual procedure (first abstract and introduction, then conclusions, then figures, then article).

• For 09/20 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 09/22 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion (either as a discusser, or as leader: AR, CB, JS).

2022 September 15 (Th)

Topics:Kuhl (2007): How does a language become L1?

Class:

• Discussion of article, led by EM.

Assignment: Read Sebastián-Gallés et al. 2005, following the usual procedure (first abstract and introduction, then conclusions, then figures, then article).

• For 09/19 (M): Post a question.
• For 09/20 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 09/22 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion (either as a discusser, or as leader: AR, CB, JS).

2022 September 13 (Tu)

Topics: Preparation for Kuhl (2007): Is speech (perception) special?

Class:

• Kuhl 2007 will be arguing that speech is handled by general mammalian audition, so today's handout reviews some arguments that have been made for the opposite position.
• What is a specialization?
• Arguments based on: Rarity of vocal imitation; categorical perception; mismatches between human and non-human phonetic perception; duplex perception; infant listening preferences; perception of non-speech analogues
• Time permitting: Some ways for following up on a question.

Assignment: (Re)read Kuhl 2007, following the usual procedure.

• For 09/13 (T): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 09/15 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion

2022 September 8 (Th)

Topics:Phonetics preparation for perception unit.

Class:

• Vowel formants (HO, Sakai Resources)
  • What vowel formants are acoustically
  • How to find them on a spectrogram
  • Higher F1: lower vowel; higher F2: fronter vowel
  • Formant transitions cue consonant place of articulation
  • F3 cues rhoticity
• VOT: Long-lag vs. short-lag vs. prevoiced. Thai examples (UCLA).
• Mystery spectrogram: What does it say? How can you tell?
• (Time permitting: Start on Tuesday's background handout for Kuhl 2007.)

Assignment: Read Kuhl 2007, following the usual procedure.

• For 09/12 (M): Post a question.
• For 09/13 (T): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 09/15 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion.

2022 September 6 (Tu) -- NO CLASS, UNC-CH closed

2022 September 1 (Th)

Topics:Discussion of Broselow & Kang (2013)

Class:

• Discussion of article, with handout (Sakai, Broselow and Kang forum)

Assignment: Look over the papers in the Sakai forum with you partner, and sign up for one.

2022 August 30 (Tu)

Topics: Some big issues: phonological markedness, phonetic difficulty, L1 transfer, universal effects. (Preparation for Broselow & Kang 2013.)

Class:

• Sources of difference between interlanguage and the L2 target: L1 transfer, universal effects (of phonetics, of phonology)
• Phonetic difficulty
• Phonological markedness
• Overlap between markedness and difficulty in explaining typology, acquisition, ...
• Partnership questionnaire

Assignment: Read (or reread) Broselow & Kang 2013, following the procedure in the Broselow and Kang reading guide (Sakai Resources).

• For 08/30 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 09/01 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion.

2022 August 25 (Th)

Topics: Discussion of Abrahamsson & Hyltenstam 2009

Class:

• Discussion of article, with handout (on Sakai, under the A&H Forum thread)

Assignment: Read Broselow & Kang 2013, following the procedure in the reading guide in Sakai Resources:

• For 08/29 (M): Post a question.
• For 08/30 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 09/01 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion.

2022 August 23 (Tu)

Topics: Background for Abrahamsson & Hyltenstam 2009.

Class:

• From last time: Chess learning
• Voice Onset Time in Spanish and Swedish (HO and sound files, Sakai Resources). Freeware for listening to and manipulating can be downloaded free from praat.org
• Categorical perception: What is it? CP in L1 and L2 speakers. (HO, Sakai Resources)
• "How to worry": What to do next when you notice imperfections in someone's study. In-class example: Astrid Lindgren. (HO, Sakai Resources)
• Time permitting: Dealing with slithy toves, e.g., "ceiling effect" and "Type II error"

Assignment: Read Abrahamsson & Hyltenstam 2009, following the procedure outlined in the Reading Guide. (Where is the full A&H 2009 paper on the Sakai site?) Practice following the weekly rhythm described on the Syllabus:

• For 08/23 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 08/25 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion.

2022 August 18 (Th)

Topics: Critical periods (preparation for Abrahamsson & Hyltenstam 2009).

Class:

• Critical (or sensitive) periods (HO, Sakai Resources):
  • In non-humans.
  • The critical-period hypothesis for L1 acquisition.
  • For L2 acquisition.

Assignment: Read Abrahamsson & Hyltenstam 2009, following the procedure outlined in the Reading Guide. (Where is the full A&H 2009 paper on the Sakai site?) Practice following the weekly rhythm described on the Syllabus:

• For 08/22 (M): Post a question.
• For 08/23 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 08/25 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion.

2022 August 16 (Tu)

Topics: Course organization. How to read a research paper.

Class:

• Course organization. Syllabus (Sakai, Resources)
• Using relevant technology (Zoom, Sakai, IPA, class log, face mask).
• UNC Community Standards
• UNC Honor Code.
• In class: Start reading Abrahamsson & Hyltenstam 2009, with Reading Guide (HOs, Sakai)
  • The intro-and-conclusions only version (HO, Sakai)
  • The graphs-only version (HO, Sakai)

Assignment: Read Abrahamsson & Hyltenstam 2009, following the procedure outlined in the Reading Guide. (Where is the full A&H 2009 paper on the Sakai site?) Practice following the weekly rhythm described on the Syllabus:

• For 08/22 (M): Post a question.
• For 08/23 (Tu): Read other people's questions, and think about them. Post a reaction (to the paper and/or someone's question.)
• For 08/25 (Th): Read other people's reactions, and compare them with the paper again. Prepare for class discussion.