English Phonetics and Phonology I - AFO510007
Title: English Phonetics and Phonology I
Guaranteed by: Institute of Phonetics (21-FU)
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Actual: from 2020
Semester: winter
Points: 0
E-Credits: 3
Examination process: winter s.:
Hours per week, examination: winter s.:1/1, C [HT]
Capacity: unknown / unknown (unknown)
Min. number of students: unlimited
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: no
Key competences:  
State of the course: taught
Language: Czech
Teaching methods: full-time
Level:  
Is provided by: AAA130021
Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan
enabled for web enrollment
Guarantor: prof. Mgr. Radek Skarnitzl, Ph.D.
Mgr. Pavel Šturm, Ph.D.
WS schedule   Noticeboard   
Annotation -
This two-semester course introduces the segmental and suprasegmental patterns of English. In the first part, students learn about the system of English phonemes, mainly from the articulatory and perceptual perspective. The course also addresses phonological processes manifested in connected speech, such as coarticulation, assimilation or elision.

The seminar part of the course is dedicated to building skills related to the analysis of English pronunciation, more specifically Standard British, as well as one's own pronunciation, in the form of a seminar work which combines transcription skills and auditory analyses.

Course webpage:
http://fonetika.ff.cuni.cz/studium/stranky-kurzu/english-phonetics-phonology/
Last update: Skarnitzl Radek, prof. Mgr., Ph.D. (01.08.2022)
Course completion requirements -

Credit requirements: min. 70% attendance, active participation in seminars and in short tasks in MS Teams, 2 short tests, seminar work (transcription and listening analysis), correct pronunciation at the segmental level (based on a text), reading of phonemic transcription, participation in one perception test. 
Two resit terms in total are available to complete the credit.

All credit requirements must be fulfilled by the end of the academic year in which the student was enrolled into the course.

Last update: Skarnitzl Radek, prof. Mgr., Ph.D. (01.08.2022)
Literature -

Essential literature:

Carley, P., Mees, I. M., & Collins, B. (2025). Practical English phonetics and phonology: A resource book for students (5th Edition). Routledge.

Volín, J. (2002). IPA-based transcription for Czech students of English. Karolinum.

Wells, J. C. (2008). Longman pronunciation dictionary. Longman.

Supplementary literature:

Skarnitzl, R., Šturm, P. a Volín, J. (2016). Zvuková báze řečové komunikace: Fonetický a fonologický popis češtiny. Karolinum.

García-Lecumberri, M. L. & Maidment, J. A. (2000). English transcription course. Arnold Publishing.

O’Connor, J. D. (1980). Better English pronunciation. Cambridge University Press.

Ogden, R. (2017). An introduction to English phonetics. Edinburgh University Press.

Last update: Skarnitzl Radek, prof. Mgr., Ph.D. (16.08.2025)
Syllabus -

Main topics:

  • Phonetics as a discipline
  • Sound aspects of communication
  • Speech organs
  • Vowel system, monophthongs and diphthongs
  • Consonantal system, phonetic features, the voicing category
  • Plosives, fricatives and affricates
  • Nasals and approximants
  • Assimilation and coarticulation
  • Elision
  • Syllable

Pronunciation and descriptive skills are checked throughout the course.

Last update: Skarnitzl Radek, prof. Mgr., Ph.D. (01.08.2022)