Speech and Hearing Science D4420

Introduction to Speech Science
SummerSemester2013

Updated 5/12/14

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Instructor: Christin Ray

Email:

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Course Description: This is a course that provides information about speech science, voice science, speech production, speech acoustics, psychoacoustics, speech dynamics and speech kinematics. This course looks at the anatomy and physiology of speech production/articulation, the nature of the sound waves that are produced, and basic acoustic characteristics of speech sounds. Knowledge of these topic areas is a prerequisite to an understanding of normal and pathological processes of speech.

This course is a concentrative 7-week course. We will “cover a lot of ground” in those 7 weeks. The best way to do well in this course is to read the assigned material before the chat,ask questions, and use the supplemental information to ensure understanding of the material.

The prerequisites for this course include both SpHrng 3320—Introduction to Phonetics, and SpHrng 3340—Bioacoustics (or their equivalents). It is extremely important that you know the material from the Phonetics course.

In this course you are expected to be familiar with (and be able to use) the International Phonetic Alphabet. Please familiarize yourself with the IPA’s (International Phonetic Association) website ( This provides information about the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet. Make no mistake, you will need to know the basic phonetic segments used in the English language.

The textbook for this course is:

Raphael, L., Borden, G., and Harris, K. (2007). Speech Science Primer (6th Ed). Williams & Wilkins Publishing.

In addition, there will be several websites and additional readings that you can reference to gain more information. All assigned (and recommended) readings will be available on Carmen as downloadable .pdf files.

Readings and Website assignments: There are a number of readings and website assignments made for each unit of this course. The assigned readings will be broken down into “Basic Readings” and “Advanced Readings.” The basic readings will be primarily the relevant chapters in the course textbook. The advanced readings include required articles and websites that we deem important for understanding the content of the course. You are responsible for all assigned readings, whether or not it is specifically covered in a lecture or chat.

Knowledge Outcomes: While taking this course, undergraduate students in the speech-language pathology programs:

1.will develop an understanding of the anatomical and physiological bases for and constraints on the production of human speech sounds (speech science);

2.will develop an understanding of the anatomical and physiological bases for and constraints on normal and disordered phonation (voice science);

3.will develop an elementary understanding of the source-filter theory of acoustic phonetics (acoustics);

4. will develop an elementary understanding of the acoustic characteristics of speech sounds.

Skills Developed: After taking this course, undergraduate students in the speech-language pathology programs:

1.will know how a given speech segment in English is produced (the anatomy and physiology can be described)

2.will know the acoustic characteristics of a given speech segment in English

3.will know the basic structures and processes in normal phonation in English.

Computer Requirements for the Course:

  • You will need to have access to a computer to download materials on the course website and the various internet sites to which you will be directed
  • You will be downloading some material from the Wikipedia site. We have found several of them to be useful sources of interactive information (and mostly written by real phoneticians). We have verified the information contained in all links that I have provided). When you are directed at a Wikipedia site, please take the time and follow the highlighted links (and take notes).

Carmen Site: There will be a Carmen site on which materials will be placed.

Grading:

Your final course grade will be based on the following components (please see the Course Schedule for the exam dates and times):

4 Quizzes (each is worth 25 points)100 points

Final Exam (comprehensive)100 points

Letter grades will be assigned based on the standard ranges as follows: 93-100% A, 90-92% A-, 87-89% B+, 83-86% B, 80-82% B-, 77-79% C+, 73-76% C, 70-72% C-, 67-79 D+, 63-66 D, < 63% E

  • Remember, no learned human activity that we know of improves without practice, that includes understanding anatomy, physiology, transcription, acoustics.

Academic Misconduct: The University's Code of Student Conduct defines academic misconduct as "[any] activity that tends to compromise the academic integrity of the University, or subvert the educational process." If I suspect that a student has committed academic misconduct in this course, I am obligated by University Rules to report my suspicions to the Committee on Academic Misconduct. If COAM determines that you have violated the University’s Code of Student Conduct (i.e., committed academic misconduct), the sanctions for the misconduct could include a failing grade in this course and suspension or dismissal from the University. If you have any questions about the above policy or what constitutes academic misconduct in this course, please contact me. Some examples of academic misconduct include (but are not limited to): plagiarism, knowingly providing or receiving information during an exam or assignment, and violating the course rules. Students with Disabilities:THIS PUBLICATION/MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE IN ALTERNATIVE FORMATS UPON REQUEST. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THEIR NEEDS KNOWN TO THE INSTRUCTOR AS SOON AS THE QUARTER BEGINS, AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SEEKING AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE FROM THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES 292-3307, PRIOR TO OR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE QUARTER. I RELY ON THE OFFICE FOR DISABILITY SERVICES FOR ASSISTANCE IN VERIFYING THE NEED FOR ACCOMMODATIONS AND DEVELOPING ACCOMMODATION STRATEGIES.

Course Schedule

(This course outline will be updated as needed)

420Dwill have an open discussion format that will be available 24/7 on Carmen. This is the place to ask questions and also to answer other students’ questions if you feel you are able. I will be checking the discussion several days per week to provide input and give you information.

4 quizzes are available online Thursday at noon and due by Sundayat 11:59pm.

Week / Topic / Reading / Quiz/Exam
1
6/16/14 / Intro
Acoustics / Ch 1
Ch 2 / None
2
6/23/14 / Neurology
Respiration / Ch 3 / Quiz 1 (Chapters 1 and 2)
3
6/30/14 / Phonation / Ch 4 / None
4
7/7/14 / Vowel Acoustics / Ch 5 / Quiz 2 (Chapters 3 and 4)
5
7/14/14 / Consonant Acoustics
Prosody / Ch 6
Ch 7 / Quiz 3 (Chapters 5 and 6)
6
7/21/14 / Perception
Spectrogram Analysis / Ch 8
Ch 10 / Quiz 4 (Chapters 7 and 8)
7
7/28/14 / Research
Pioneers / Ch 11
Ch 12 / Final Exam (Comprehensive)
Will be available at noon on Thursday 7/31 and due by 11:59pm on Tues8/5

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