LNG 101 Phonological differences between English and Chinese Discussion

LNG101_Final project_Brief_AY22-23 S2LNG101 Sounds of English
Semester 2, 2022-2023 Academic Year
Final Project (Resit)
(subject to minor revision)
Date of submission:
23:55, 2023-07-24
Submission method:
Learning Mall
Weighting:
40 percent of the module grade
You are required to select an original clip of RP pronunciation from a BBC documentary, TV
programme or film. You should not choose a radio news report. The extract from the BBC
documentary, TV programme or film should be approximately 225-375 words of orthographic
transcription. This is approximately 3 minutes of recording, depending on the speech rate.
Furthermore, you are required to record yourself producing the extract.
You must select a clip that is different from the one analyzed in your prior submission.
Task 1. Choice of clip and Recording (5 marks)
Marks will be awarded for submission of a sound file of the original clip and its suitability as
well as a sound file of the recording of yourself. The sound files submitted should be
transformed into WAV format.
Task 2. Orthographic transcription (5 marks)
Marks will be awarded for an accurate and complete orthographic transcription of the extract.
Task 3. Connected speech (30 marks)
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LNG101_Final project_Brief_AY22-23 S2
Please compare the pronunciation of the original speaker and the way it would be pronounced
in careful, slow speech (RP pronunciation); select ONE aspect of connected speech that you
have learned in the module, and discuss how it is represented in the original recording. Please
give specific examples (with the time point that they occur in the recording, e.g. at 1 minute 30
seconds). You do not need to cover the whole clip.
Task 4. Intonation analysis with WASP graphs (30 marks)
Please select ONE sentence from the extract (containing a minimum of twelve words). You
need to submit a clip of this sentence produced by the original speaker and a clip of the same
sentence produced by yourself (in WAV format).
Then, please provide WASP graphs of the intonation of this sentence produced by you and the
original speaker; and discuss the similarities and differences in intonation between the original
recording and your own recording.
Task 5. Phonological differences between English and Chinese (30 marks)
If you are a Chinese native speaker, please reflect on your own pronunciation in the recording;
and discuss ONE challenge you have met that can be attributed to the phonological differences
between Chinese and English.
If you are not a Chinese native speaker, please discuss ONE challenge that you think Chinese
English learners may meet when producing the extract that can be attributed to the
phonological differences between Chinese and English.
The challenge may be related to phonemes (like vowels and consonants), syllables, connected
speech, etc. Please give specific examples (with the time point that they occur in the recording)
and explain why you think this challenge is attributed to the phonological differences between
Chinese and English.
Notes:
1. All the phonemic or phonetic transcriptions you include in your submission should follow the
conventions used in the textbook for the module: Roach (2009).
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LNG101_Final project_Brief_AY22-23 S2
2. When you need to check a dictionary for standard RP pronunciation of individual words, it is
recommended that you use the Macmillan English Dictionary:
https://www.macmillandictionary.com
3. If you use the subtitles to help you, make sure they match what is actually said. Authorised
DVDs distributed in China will usually have good subtitles for the original soundtrack, but even
these sometimes use shorter forms or synonyms to save space. You need an orthographic
transcription of what is actually said.
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