Ling 520 | Daily syllabus

This syllabus is updated after each day's class.
Use it to keep track of what we've done and where we're going.

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[01] M Aug 18

Covered today: Intro to this course — What is linguistics, and what is phonetics? [outline]
- Handout - Course information and policies
To read for W Aug 20: | Reminder: Use Course Reserves if you don't have your textbooks yet
- V&C Ch 1, especially sec 1.4 - Describing speech sounds
- V&C Ch 6 - Focus on Table 6.1, showing IPA symbols for the consonants of English (we'll discuss the acoustics information later)
- V&C Ch 3 - Focus on IPA symbols for the vowels in Table 3.1; compare Table 3.2 for American English
Prep questions: 08.20a, "Course info & policies quiz", and 08.20b, "IPA symbols and speech sounds", are due W Aug 20, 1pm, in Canvas Assignments
- Reminder: Prep questions help you work through the assigned readings

[02] W Aug 20

Covered today: Speech sounds and phonetic symbols [outline]
- V&C sound files for consonants: download from UCLA | Wiley
- V&C sound files for vowels: download from UCLA | Wiley
- Another option: Listen in web browser to similar examples from the A Course in Phonetics web site
  - Consonants
  - Vowels | Symbols under "1" are for American English; "2" are for British English
  - Note: This web site may ask you for microphone permission; just click 'No'
Prepare for lab work time in class on F Aug 22: Lab #01 | Using Praat/Consonants of English (due M Aug 25 at 2:30pm)
- Read LING 520 Praat handouts #1-4
- Download and install the Praat software on your computer (read Praat handout #1 first!)
- Preview the Lab #01 assignment information and download the files
If possible, bring your computer to class on Friday for hands-on work time

[03] F Aug 22 [lab]

Covered today:
- Introductions
- Lab #01: Using Praat/Consonants of English [Lab assignment and files]
Assignment: Lab #01 - Using Praat/Consonants of English
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by M Aug 25, 2:30pm
To read for M Aug 25:
- Read AAP Ch 1, through the end of sec 1.3.1 - Sound waves; simple periodic waves
- Review V&C sec 1.4 on basic properties of sound waves

[04] M Aug 25

Covered today: [outline]
- Waves: Overview and basic properties
- Simple periodic waves
To read for W Aug 27: AAP Ch 1, sec 1.3.2 - Complex periodic waves
Prep questions: 08.27 "Basic wave properties" is due W Aug 27, 1pm, in Canvas Assignments
- Use these sound files for the prep questions (from the Music Acoustics web site, U New South Wales): [1] [2]

[05] W Aug 27

Covered today: Complex periodic waves [outline] [Padlet]
- Wave Adder (from Zona Land)
- Standing Waves, Medium Fixed At Both Ends (from Zona Land)
To read for F Aug 29:
- V&C Ch 2, sec 2.1, "Tones"
- V&C Ch 2, sec 2.2, "English intonation"
- Also think about AAP Ch 1, Fig. 1.7 (p 16): what do we see here, and why?
Prepare for lab work time in class on F Aug 29: Lab #02 | Measuring sound waves (due W Sept 3 at 2:30pm)
- If possible, bring your computer to class on Friday for hands-on work time
- Lab #02 assignment information is available here if you would like to preview it

[06] F Aug 29 [lab]

Covered today: [outline] [Padlet]
- Discussion of prep questions 08.27 - calculating f₀
- How languages use f₀
- Lab #02: Measuring sound waves [Lab assignment and files]
Assignment: Lab #02 - Measuring sound waves
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by W Sept 3, 2:30pm
To read for W Sept 3:
- The second part of AAP Ch 2, sec 2.1:
  - Start on p 27 in the middle of the first big paragraph, where it says "When you pluck a guitar string..."
  - Read to the end of sec 2.1
- Some web pages with animations that illustrate concepts from the AAP reading:
  - "Understand Standing Wave Diagrams", part [1] (from Zona Land)
  - "Wave Interference 2" (from Zona Land) — try the settings for...
    - "Sinusoid 6" (note how the zero amplitude points are in fixed positions when the waves interfere; this is a standing wave)
    - "Sinusoid 8" (note how the zero amplitude points are not in fixed positions; not a standing wave)

M Sept 1

Labor Day — no class

[07] W Sept 3

Covered today: Standing waves and resonances [outline] [Padlet]
- "Understand Standing Wave Diagrams", part [1] (from Zona Land)
- "Wave Interference 2" (from Zona Land)
- "Standing Sound Waves" (Dan Russell, Penn State)
  - Shows how pressure and displacement standing wave diagrams relate to the vibration of air in a tube
  - Focus on the animations in the second section, with header "The solution: an animation to visualize particle motion and pressure..."
To read for M Sept 8:
- AAP Ch 2, sec 2.4 - "Pendulums, standing waves, and vowel formants"
  - This reading gives another look at the material we discussed in class today
  - Be careful interpreting the diagrams! The standing-wave envelopes are for displacement waves, not pressure waves!
  - Refer back to the animations in "Standing Sound Waves" to help you think about displacement vs. pressure wave diagrams
- AAP Ch 2, sec 2.1 up to p 27 - "Voicing"
Prep questions: 09.05 "Standing waves and resonances" is due F Sept 5, 1pm, in Canvas Assignments (material is review from today's class)
- Use the "Wave Interference 2" animation (from Zona Land) for question #1
Prepare for lab work time in class on F Sept 5: Lab #03 | Tube resonances (due M Sept 8 at 2:30pm)
- If possible, bring your computer to class on Friday for hands-on work time
- Lab #03 assignment information is available here if you would like to preview it

[08] F Sept 5 [lab]

Covered today: From wavelength to frequency; Lab #03 work time [outline] [Padlet]
Assignment: Lab #03 - Tube resonances
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by M Sept 8, 2:30pm
To read for M Sept 8:
- AAP Ch 2, sec 2.4 - "Pendulums, standing waves, and vowel formants"
  - This reading gives another look at the material we discussed in class Wed and today
  - Be careful interpreting the diagrams! The standing-wave envelopes are for displacement waves, not pressure waves!
  - Refer back to the animations in "Standing Sound Waves" to help you think about displacement vs. pressure wave diagrams
- AAP Ch 2, sec 2.1 up to p 27 - "Voicing"

[09] M Sept 8

Covered today: Resonances (review); the glottal source; autocorrelation pitch tracking [outline] [Padlet]
To read for W Sept 10:
- AAP, Ch 3, sec 3.3.3, "Auto-correlation pitch tracking"
- AAP Ch 2, sec 2.3 - "Vocal-tract filtering"
- Web demo "The source/filter model", by Kevin Russell, U. Manitoba
- This is a good time to review all of AAP Ch 2, sec 2.1, 2.3, 2.4 if needed
Prep questions: (change in plans: no prep questions due for W Sept 10)

[10] W Sept 10

Covered today: The source-filter model and schwa [outline] [Padlet]
To read for F Sept 12:
- (Review:) Web demo "The source/filter model", by Kevin Russell, U. Manitoba
- This is a good time to review any of AAP Ch 2, sec 2.1, 2.3, 2.4 as needed
Prepare for lab work time in class on F Sept 12: Lab #04 | The source-filter model and schwa (due W Sept 17 at 2:30pm)
- If possible, bring your computer to class on Friday for hands-on work time using Praat
- Lab #04 assignment information is available here if you would like to preview it
Partnership questionnaire: Link via Canvas — please complete by F Sept 12, class time
Prep questions: 09.12, "Source/filter model: Basic concepts" is due F Sept 12, 1pm, in Canvas Assignments

[11] F Sept 12 [lab]

Covered today: Review and discussion; Lab #04 work time [outline] [Padlet]
Assignment: Lab #04 - The source-filter model and schwa
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by W Sept 17, 2:30pm

M Sept 15

Well-being day — no class

[12] W Sept 17

Covered today: Articulatory descriptions of vowels; Spectrograms and vowel formants [outline] [Padlet]
- Images of [i e a o u] articulations: X-ray (V&C Fig 12.3) | MRI (M. Edwards)
- Vocal-tract models, Exploratorium
- "Where spectrograms come from" (A Course in Phonetics web site)
To read for F Sept 19:
- V&C, Ch 4, "The sounds of vowels"
- V&C, Ch 12, sec 12.1, "Movements of the tongue and lips for vowels"
Prep questions: 09.19, "Vowels and spectrograms" is due F Sept 19, 1pm, in Canvas Assignments

[13] F Sept 19

Covered today: Modeling vowel formants: Multiple-tube model, intro to perturbation theory [outline] [Padlet]
To read for M Sept 22:
- Read through the rest of today's discussion outline slides (sections 8-10)
- AAP Ch 6, sec 6.1, "Tube models of vowel production"
- AAP Ch 6, sec 6.2, "Perturbation theory" (but be sure to read the note on outline slide 39 about pressure vs. velocity standing-wave diagrams!)
Prep questions: 09.22, "Modeling vowel formants" is due M Sept 22, 1pm, in Canvas Assignments
Prepare for lab work time in class on M Sept 22: Lab #05 | The source-filter model and schwa (due F Sept 26 at 2:30pm)
- If possible, bring your computer to class on Monday for hands-on work time using Praat
- Lab #05 assignment information is available here if you would like to preview it
- Note that we will also finish our discussion of perturbation theory on Monday

[14] M Sept 22

Covered today: Perturbation theory and source/filter check-in; Intro to Lab #05 [outline] [Padlet]
To read for W Sept 24 (background for Lab #05):
- V&C Ch 5, sec 5.1, "Charting vowels"
- AAP Ch 6, sec 6.4, "Vowel formants and the acoustic vowel space"
Lab work time in class on W Sept 24: Lab #05 | Vowel formants and wide-band spectrograms (due F Sept 26 at 2:30pm)
- If possible, bring your computer to class on Wednesday for hands-on work time using Praat
- Lab #05 assignment information is available here
- Note that we will start with general review/questions for vowel acoustics on Wednesday

[15] W Sept 24

Covered today: Vowel acoustics review and questions; Lab #05 [lab links] [Padlet]
Assignment: Lab #05 - Vowel formants and wide-band spectrograms
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by F Sept 26, 2:30pm

[16] F Sept 26

Covered today: Research questions and hypotheses; preparation for Lab #06 [Padlet]
- Review: The predictions of perturbation theory [F Sept 19 outline]
- Checking in: F1 x F2 plot for Swahili vowels (Lab #05)
- Research questions: Quantitative investigation of traditional analyses
- Understanding the goals and procedure for Lab #06
Lab work time in class on M Sept 29: Lab #06 | Phonetics of German vowels (due Tu Sept 29 at 11:59pm)
- If possible, bring your computer to class on Wednesday for hands-on work time using Praat
- Lab #06 assignment information is available here
- Submit questions by email or [Padlet] if there are points you would like to review or discuss on Monday
Recommendation: Everybody come on Monday with:
- F1-F3 measurements for all words in the lab
- Some ideas for how to state and frame the research questions/predictions
- Some ideas for what data graphics to make to display your results

[17] M Sept 29 [lab]

Covered today: Lab #05 check-in; work time for Lab #06 [Padlet]
Assignment: Lab #06 - Phonetics of German vowels
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by Tu Sept 30, 11:59pm
Upcoming: Midterm exam on F Oct 3 / Exam review discussion on W Oct 1
- Midterm exam review guide
- "Core concepts" source-filter model summary diagram
- GDoc survey to submit questions / topics for discussion (you may submit multiple times)

[18] W Oct 1

Covered today: Exam review and discussion [Padlet]
Prepare: Midterm exam on F Oct 3
- Midterm exam review guide
- "Core concepts" source-filter model summary diagram

[19] F Oct 3

Midterm exam

[20] M Oct 6

Covered today: Acoustics of fricatives [outline] [Padlet]
- Fricative sound examples: V&C English | V&C worldwide (look for "fricatives" or "sibilants")
Reading that reviews today's material (read before Lab #07 on F Oct 10):
- V&C Ch 6, sec 6.5, "Fricatives"
- AAP Ch 1, sec 1.3.3, "Aperiodic waves"
- AAP Ch 7, sec 7.1, "Turbulence"
- AAP Ch 7, sec 7.2, "Place of articulation in fricatives"
To read for W Oct 8:
- V&C Ch 6, sec 6.2, "Stop consonants"
- AAP Ch 8, chapter introduction
- AAP Ch 8, sec 8.2, "Vocal tract filter functions in stops"
Prep questions: 10.06, "Fricatives" is due W Oct 8, 1pm, in Canvas Assignments

[21] W Oct 8

Covered today: Acoustics of oral stops: Formant transitions, bursts [outline] [Padlet]
- Interactive mid-sagittal section, by Daniel Currie Hall
- Oral stop sound examples: V&C English | V&C worldwide (look for "stops")
To read for F Oct 10: (reviews content from M Oct 6):
- V&C Ch 6, sec 6.5, "Fricatives"
- AAP Ch 1, sec 1.3.3, "Aperiodic waves"
- AAP Ch 7, sec 7.1, "Turbulence"
- AAP Ch 7, sec 7.2, "Place of articulation in fricatives"
Prep for F Oct 10: Catch up on your reading and practice with sound files
- F will be (partly) an in-class lab day; work with your classmates and dig in to course concepts!

[22] F Oct 10 [lab]

Covered today: Fricatives and oral stops check-in; work time for Lab #07 [outline 10.06] [outline 10.08] [Padlet]
Assignment: Lab #07 - Analyzing fricatives
- Lab #07 assignment information is available here
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by W Oct 15, 2:30pm
To read for M Oct 13:
- V&C Ch 13, sec 13.1, "The larynx"
- V&C Ch 13, sec 13.2, "Voiced and voiceless sounds"
- V&C Ch 13, sec 13.3, "Voicing and aspiration"
- AAP Ch 8, sec 8.1.2, "Sound sources in stops and affricates"

[23] M Oct 13

Covered today: The larynx, phonation, and VOT [outline] [Padlet]
- FYI: Bonus information about the larynx and phonation
Assignment: Lab #07 - Analyzing fricatives
- Lab #07 assignment information is available here
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by W Oct 15, 2:30pm
Upcoming: Lab #08 - VOT and place of articulation in Sindhi
- Lab #08 assignment information is available here
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by ~~F Oct 24, 2:30pm~~
To prepare for W Oct 15:
- Prepare to discuss the question on slide 17 from today
- Review readings about fricatives, stops, voicing, VOT as needed

[24] W Oct 15 [lab]

Covered today: Research questions and hypotheses; strategies for this course; intro to Lab #08 [outline] [Padlet]
Upcoming: Lab #08 - VOT and place of articulation in Sindhi
- Lab #08 assignment information is available here
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by ~~F Oct 24, 2:30pm~~
To prepare for M Oct 20:
- Work on Lab #08 as time permits
- Review readings about fricatives, stops, voicing, VOT as needed

F Oct 17

Fall Break — no class

[25] M Oct 20 [lab]

Covered today: Research questions and hypotheses; Lab #08 methodology [Padlet]
Upcoming: Lab #08 - VOT and place of articulation in Sindhi
- Lab #08 assignment information is available here (note updated lab handout)
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by ~~F Oct 24, 2:30pm~~
To read for W Oct 22:
- V&C Ch 6, sec 6.4, "Nasals"
- AAP Ch 9, sec 9.1-9.2, "Bandwidth" and "Nasal stops"
- V&C Ch 6, sec 6.3, "Approximants"
- AAP Ch 9, sec 9.3, "Laterals"
- Review AAP Ch 6, very end of sec 6.2 (pp 140-141) on the filter for [ɹ]

[26] W Oct 22

Covered today: [outline] [Padlet]
- Stating hypotheses to test models
- Communicating results with data graphics
- Discussion: Midterm exam
Upcoming: Lab #08 - VOT and place of articulation in Sindhi
- Lab #08 assignment information is available here (note updated lab handout)
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by M Oct 27, 2:30pm
To read for F Oct 24:
- V&C Ch 6, sec 6.4, "Nasals"
- AAP Ch 9, sec 9.1-9.2, "Bandwidth" and "Nasal stops"
- V&C Ch 6, sec 6.3, "Approximants"
- AAP Ch 9, sec 9.3, "Laterals"
- Review AAP Ch 6, very end of sec 6.2 (pp 140-141) on the filter for [ɹ]

[27] F Oct 24

Covered today: Nasal stops; side tubes; approximants [outline] [Padlet]
Assignment: Lab #08 - VOT and place of articulation in Sindhi
- Lab #08 assignment information is available here (note updated lab handout)
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by M Oct 27, 2:30pm
Discussion topics for M Oct 27:
- Try out the discussion questions from today's slides
- Bring other questions you have about consonants (fricatives, oral stops, nasal stops, approximants)

[28] M Oct 27

Covered today: Consonant review; Reading spectrograms [outline] [Padlet]
To preview for W Oct 29: We will discuss a research article together in class (focus on research questions, experiment design)
- The article: Gallagher & Whang (2014) [UNC link]
- Discussion guide
- Sound file, FYI: Ejectives in a (different?) variety of Quechua, from the V&C website

[29] W Oct 29

Covered today: Research articles; research questions; experiment design [outline] [Padlet]
- The article: Gallagher & Whang (2014) [UNC link]
- Discussion guide
- Sound file, FYI: Ejectives in a (different?) variety of Quechua, from the V&C website
To preview for F Oct 31: Partner-group workshop time for project topic development
- Final project overview handout
- Article proposal / article summary assignment handout

[30] F Oct 31 🎃 [lab]

Covered today: Final project / article report info; article proposal/project topic workshop time [Padlet]
Upcoming: Article proposal
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by M Nov 3, 11:59pm
- Article proposal / article summary assignment handout | grading criteria
- Final project information and links
To read for M Nov 3:
- AAP Ch 3, sec 3.1-3.2 on digital signal processing / recordings

[31] M Nov 3

Covered today: Digital signal processing; making recordings in Praat [outline] [Padlet]
- Praat handout #5 on recording now available (see also Praat resources page)
- FYI: Sidney Wood's tutorial, "What does MP3 do to your recordings?"
Assignment: Article proposal
- Due on Canvas in Assignments by M Nov 3, 11:59pm
- Article proposal / article summary assignment handout | grading criteria
- Final project information and links
Upcoming: Project workshop time on W Nov 5
- Goal: Work with your partner group on your article report (and project topic proposal)

Daily syllabus

Linguistic Phonetics · Fall 2025