Experimental Phonology

This course aims to introduce you to experimental and laboratory-based approaches to phonology. Laboratory Phonology emerged in the 90s as an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to investigating human sound systems. By integrated and multidisciplinary approach, we mean various experimental approaches, e.g., phonetic sciences, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, psychophysics and psychoacoustics, language acquisition, speech and hearing sciences, computations methodologies, machines learning, etc. Some readings will be essential to strengthen and enhance understanding of laboratory approaches to phonology and the TD/TP sessions will be dedicated to learning and applying experimental techniques in both production and perception in addition to manipulating the speech signal to answer specific research questions. All of these techniques we allow students to gain insights into this integrated approach and its role in informing phonological theory.                        

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:           

• Understand key notions covered in Laboratory and experimental phonology
• Understand key experimental techniques used when dealing with experimental data from production, perception and processing of speech
• Use of key software for data processing (Praat, VoiceSauce, Correlator)
• Evaluate the application of psycholinguistic methods in perception experiments (Praat and PsychoPy), in addition to psychoacoustic representation of speech; additional readings will look specifically at using EEG, ERPs and visual world paradigm for online processing,
• Evaluate the application of advanced statistical techniques (from traditional methods to machine learning) as a framework to guide laboratory phonology studies.

Ideally, students will need basic knowledge of phonetics and phonology