ASSIGNMENT

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HBET1203
ENGLISH PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY
MAY 2021 SEMESTER
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SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION

1. Answer in English.

2. Number of words: 2500 – 3000 words excluding references.

3. Submit your assignment ONCE only in a SINGLE file.

4. Submit your assignment ONLINE.

5. Submission date: 11 July 2021.

6. This assignment accounts for 60% of the total marks for the course.

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 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

TASK PREREQUISITE:
You are required to watch the video below, which shows a Malaysian lady talking about
a topic. She can arguably be said to speak in Malaysian English.

Video Link: https://youtu.be/KhoWbZX_GeY

There are THREE (3) tasks for this assignment:

1. Identify TEN (10) unique characteristics of her pronunciation of specific

phonemes (consonants and vowels).
a. To answer this part, you need to find, indicate, transcribe words and
compare the phoneme sounds in which she pronounces differently from
the way it is supposed to be pronounced in BrE (Use the automatic
transcriber to find the BrE pronunciation).
b. Each phoneme that you refer to needs to be transcribed and described.
Example: The speaker pronounces /t/ and /tʃ/ in her use of the word
‘don’t’ at point 2.09 in the video.
c. The time / point at which each phoneme you refer to occur needs to be
indicated. You can do this by looking at the time indicator on the Youtube
video. Example, “Satisfaction” (2:23)
(10 x 2.5 = 25 marks)

2. Identify TEN (10) occurrences where the speaker puts phonemes together within
her words and between her words (segmental and suprasegmental). Explain
these occurrences through the speaker’s unique ways of using Intonation, Stress,
Tempo, Rhythm, Pause, Chunking, Grammar, and Focus.
(10 x 2.5 = 25 marks)

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3. Support your findings for 2 and 3 using IPA transcriptions of the sounds you hear .
You are advised to use the online phonetic transcriber, the online IPA symbols
writer, and the IPA phonetic symbols reference site to make your work easier
and more accurate. This will be graded on the basis of the following:
a. Consistent use of the IPA alphabet.
b. Correct transcription of the words and phrases selected.
(10 marks)
Recommendations:
1. https://ipa.typeit.org/ Online IPA symbols writer
2. https://tophonetics.com/ Online phonetic transcriber

[Total: 60 marks]

Assessment guide
Type of assessment Essay / Research Essay
Assessment guide  Online phonetic transcriber 1
 Online phonetic transcriber 2
 International Phonetic Alphabet
End product word length Not applicable
Recommended reading 1) Module.
2) See above for other phonetic tools.

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HBET1203 ENGLISH PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY/ MAY 2021
*QN CLO Criteria Weight
Identification of
realization of phonemes
(consonants and vowels)
1 1
Identification of
segmental* and
suprasegmental elements
(any matters that influence
Intonation, Stress, Tempo,
Rhythm, Pause, Chunking,
2 2 Grammar, Focus).
Uses of technology in
completing phonetics and
phonological tasks. Can be
3 3 judged from the accuracy
of the transcriptions
provided.
Total
Excellent
4 3
Fully addresses all aspects
of the task with 10 good
examples.
Phonemes used are
identified and described
accurately.
6.25
Comparison between BrE
and actual phoneme used
made accurately.
Fully addresses all aspects
of the task with 10
thorough explanation
Segmental and
suprasegmental elements
6.25 accurately identified,
explained, and presented
(transcription with
descriptive diacritics used
properly)
Appropriate and
competent use of services
mentioned in the guide
2.5 can be seen reflected in
the accuracy and
correctness of the
transcriptions for 1 and 2.
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ATTACHMENT
ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC
Good Fair Poor Unsatisfactory Max
2 1 0 Marks
Addresses the task with Adequately addresses Less than 10 examples Phonemes used are
10 examples. the task with 10 provided. NOT identified and
examples, with one or described.
Phonemes used are two mistakes in Phonemes used are
identified and described phonemes. poorly identified and Comparison
appropriately although described. between BrE and
not very accurately. Phonemes used are actual phoneme
25
identified and described Comparison between used is not made.
Comparison between BrE with some inaccuracies. BrE and actual
and actual phoneme phoneme used made
used made relatively Comparison between BrE with poor accuracy.
accurately. and actual phoneme
used made with some
inaccuracies.
Addresses the task with Adequately addresses Less than 10 Segmental and
10 explanations. the task with 10 occurrences provided. suprasegmental
occurrences, with one or elements NOT
Segmental and two mistakes. Segmental and identified, or
suprasegmental suprasegmental explained and
elements appropriate Segmental and elements poorly presented
identified, explained and suprasegmental identified, or explained (transcription with 25
presented (transcription elements relatively and presented descriptive
with descriptive diacritics poorly identified, (transcription with diacritics NOT
used). Some inaccuracies explained and presented descriptive diacritics used)
persist. (transcription with not used)
descriptive diacritics
used improperly)
Appropriate use of Less than competent use Poor use of services No use of services
services mentioned in of services mentioned in mentioned in the guide mentioned in the
the guide can be seen the guide can be seen can be seen reflected guide can be seen
reflected in the relative reflected in limited in the inaccuracy and reflected in the 10
correctness of the accuracy and correctness incorrectness of the incorrectness of
transcriptions for 1 and of the transcriptions for 1 transcriptions for 1 and the transcriptions
2. and 2. 2. for 1 and 2.
60
*Segmental - “any discrete unit that can be identified, either physically or auditorily, in the stream of speech” (Crystal, 2003, pp. 408–409)

Question / CLO CLO

Task number number Criteria
1 1 Identify the main organs of speech and the different places and manner of articulation for different English sounds.
2 2 Identify, describe and classify segmental and suprasegmental features of speech in English.
3 3 Analyze the patterns in speech using phonetic and phonological tools