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Spanish Phonetics and Phonology

Code: 106367 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Spanish Language and Literature OB 2

Contact

Name:
Lourdes Aguilar Cuevas
Email:
lourdes.aguilar@uab.cat

Teachers

Maria Jesus Machuca Ayuso
Lourdes Aguilar Cuevas
Maria Assumpcio Rost Bagudanch

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

The student must have acquired the essential language skills to effectively express themselves in Spanish, both orally and in writing.

It is essential to emphasize that any spelling or expression errors made by the student will result in a deduction of points from the final grade (a deduction of 0.25 per error in evaluation assessments).

In this course, originality holds great significance, and it is strictly forbidden to engage in complete or partial plagiarism of external materials published in any medium. Failure to appropriately attribute non-original content will automatically lead to a failing grade (0).

Furthermore, it is assumed that the student is familiar with the general guidelines for presenting academic work. However, if the professor deems it necessary, specific instructions may be provided, and it is expected that the student will comply with them accordingly.

 


Objectives and Contextualisation

  • Familiarize students with the fundamental concepts of phonetics and phonology, including theoretical principles and practical applications.
  • Enable students to describe in detail the phonetic system of Spanish, identifying and classifying sounds according to their articulatory and acoustic features.
  • Provide the necessary knowledge to analyze the phonological system of Spanish, understanding the relationships and functions of phonemes within the linguistic system.
  • Prepare students to apply the acquired knowledge in the study and research of phonetics and phonology, using transcription and data analysis techniques.
  • Offer a solid foundation that allows students to delve deeper into these disciplines in subsequent courses, such as "Phonetic Studies of Spanish: Perspectives and Applications," facilitating a deeper and more applied understanding of the subjects.
  • Contextualize the knowledge of phonetics and phonology within a broader framework of linguistic and interdisciplinary studies, highlighting its relevance to other fields, such as sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics and applied linguistics.

Competences

  • Analyse the main phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical and semantic properties of the Spanish language, its evolution throughout history and its current structure.
  • Develop arguments applicable to the fields of Hispanic literature, literary theory, Spanish language and linguistics, and evaluate their academic relevance.
  • Introduce changes in the methods and processes of the field of knowledge to provide innovative responses to the needs and demands of society.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Acquire in-depth phonetic knowledge so that it can be applied to other interdisciplinary fields.
  2. Characterise linguistic phenomena taking into account the different levels of analysis.
  3. Describe the phonological system of Spanish on the basis of the distribution, relationships and articulatory and acoustic properties of its elements.
  4. Identify and describe the syntactic constructions of Spanish.
  5. Identify the constituents of a word and the levels at which they operate.
  6. Justify by means of appropriate terminology the analysis of data from a linguistic point of view.
  7. Make linguistic predictions and inferences about the content of a text.
  8. Propose new ways of measuring success or failure in the implementation of proposals or innovative ideas.
  9. Recognise acoustically and articulately the sounds and prosody of Spanish.
  10. Recognise the links between compositional semantics and other disciplines, both linguistic (syntax, lexicology, pragmatics) and non-linguistic (philosophy, logic, mathematics).
  11. Use digital tools to obtain, classify, interpret and analyse relevant data related to the study of Spanish language and literature.
  12. Use the appropriate terminology in the construction of an academic text and in the transmission of their knowledge.
  13. Use traditional sources to obtain, classify, interpret and analyse relevant data related to the study of Spanish language and literature.

Content

The subject is composed of the following thematic blocks:

  1. Articulatory description of vowels and consonants. Articulatory parameters for the classification of vowels and consonants.

  2. Acoustic description of vowels and consonants. Acoustic parameters for the classification of sounds. Relationships between articulatory and acoustic characteristics.

  3. Phonetic transcription. Phonetic alphabets: the alphabet of the Revista de Filología Española (RFE) and the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

  4. Prosodic phenomena. Stress. Intonation. Pauses.

  5. The phonological system of Spanish. From sound to phoneme. Phonemes and allophones. Contexts and distributions. Factors of variation.

  6. Characterization of Spanish phonemes through distinctive features. Physical description and distinctive features. Types of feature systems and their application to Spanish.

  7. The syllable. The syllable as a phonological unit. Syllable division and structure. Vowel and consonant groups.

  8. Phonological processes in Spanish. Sounds in contact. Representation of phonological processes in Spanish.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Master classes 26.5 1.06 3, 9
Resolution of exercises 26 1.04 2, 3, 7, 12, 11, 13, 6, 8, 9
Type: Supervised      
Preparation of evaluation activities 5 0.2 3, 7, 12, 11, 13, 9
Supervision and review of exercises 10 0.4 3, 7, 12, 11, 13, 8, 9
Type: Autonomous      
Extension of knowledge 15 0.6 1, 2, 3, 7, 11, 13, 8, 9
Preparation of exercises 15 0.6 2, 3, 7, 11, 13, 6, 9
Preparation of reading comprehension activities 15 0.6 3, 7, 11, 13, 9
Preparation of written production activities 15 0.6 3, 7, 12, 11, 13, 6, 9
Search for bibliographical references 15 0.6 3, 11, 13, 9

The learning of this subject by the student is distributed as follows:

(1) 35% of guided activities

(2) 10% Supervised activity

(3) 50% Autonomous activities

(4) 5% Evaluation activities

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Phonetic transcription test of a file audio, analysis of the speaker articulations 10% 2.5 0.1 1, 3, 7, 12, 11, 13, 6, 8, 9
Written test of the theoretical contents about Phonology: Practice and Theory 25%+20% 2.5 0.1 1, 2, 3, 7, 12, 11, 13, 5, 4, 6, 9, 10
Written test of the contents about Phonetics: Practice and Theory 25%+20% 2.5 0.1 1, 2, 3, 7, 12, 11, 13, 5, 4, 6, 9, 10

The assessment activities are as follows:

  • Phonetic transcription test of an audio file, including commentary on the speaker's articulations (10%)

  • Written test on theoretical contents of phonology: Practical exercises (25%) and theory (20%)

  • Written test on theoretical contents of phonetics: Practical exercises (25%) and theory (20%)

To pass the course, the final grade must be at least a 5, once the weighted percentages have been applied.

The student will receive a “Not assessable” grade if they have submitted less than 30% of the assessment activities.

Any student who has completed or taken part in more than 30% of the assessment activities will be evaluated, with the corresponding weightings applied in each case.

Resits

According to the regulations, students who have completed at least two-thirds of the assessment activities are eligible for resits. To qualify for a resit, students must have obtained a minimum weighted grade of 3.5 or higher. The resit procedure will consist of repeating the failed tests.

Remarks

In the case of written expression, it is expected that students write complete paragraphs and texts. Spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, and poor discourse structure will be penalised (-0.25 per mistake).

It is assumed that students are familiar with the general rules for the presentation and submission of academic work.

Irregularities in assessment activities

If a student commits any irregularity that could significantly affect the grade of an assessment activity, that activity will be graded with a 0, regardless of any disciplinary action that may follow.

If multiple irregularities occur in assessment activities within the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies

The use of AI technologies is permitted in this course as part of the learning process, provided that the final result reflects a significant personal contribution by the student in terms of analysis and critical reflection. When submitting work involving these tools, the student must: (i) identify which parts were generated using AI; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced the process and final result. Lack of transparency in the use of AI in an assessable activity will be considered academic dishonesty and will result in a grade of 0 for that activity, which cannot be resat, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.

Single assessment

Students who choose the single assessment option must complete the following tests on the date announced during the first week of the course:

  • Phonetic transcription test of an audio file, including commentary on the speaker's articulations (10%)

  • Written test on theoretical contents of phonetics: Practical exercises (25%) and theory (20%)

  • Written test on theoretical contents of phonology: Practical exercises (25%) and theory (20%)

The same resit system as for continuous assessment will apply.

Note: Exchange students who wish to take an exam earlier must present the lecturer with a written document from their home university justifying the request.


Bibliography

Alcoba, Santiago, & Murillo, Julio. (1998). Intonation in Spanish. In Daniel Hirst & Albert di Cristo (Eds.), Intonation Systems: A Survey of Twenty Languages (pp. 152–166). Cambridge University Press.

Ashby, Michael, & Maidment, John. (2005). Introducing Phonetic Science. Cambridge University Press.

Chomsky, Noam, & Halle, Morris. (1968). The Sound Pattern of English. Harper & Row. (Traducció castellana: José Antonio Millán, Principios de fonología generativa, Fundamentos, 1979).

Colina, Sonia, & Martínez‑Gil, Fernando (Eds.). (2019). The Routledge Handbook of Spanish Phonology. Routledge.

Face, Timothy. (2008). Guide to the Phonetic Symbols of Spanish. Cascadilla Press.

Fernández Planas, Ana María. (2005). Así se habla: Nociones fundamentales de fonética general y española (2ª ed. 2011). Horsori.

Gil Fernández, Juana. (1988). Los sonidos del lenguaje. Síntesis.

Gil Fernández, Juana. (2007). Fonética para profesores de español: De la teoría a la práctica. Arco Libros.

Gil Fernández, Juana. (2016).Fonética. In Javier Gutiérrez‑Rexach (Ed.), Enciclopedia de lingüística hispánica (Vol. 1, pp. 64–80). Routledge.

Gil Fernández, Juana, & Llisterri, Joaquim. (2024). Fonética y fonología descriptivas de la lengua española. Georgetown University Press.

Harris, James Wesley. (1983). Syllable Structure and Stress in Spanish: A Nonlinear Analysis. MIT Press. (Traducció castellana: Olga Fernández Soriano, La estructura silábica y el acento en español, Visor, 1991).

Hidalgo, Antonio, & Quilis, Mercedes. (2004). Fonética y fonología españolas (2ª ed. corr. i aum.). Tirant lo Blanch.

Hidalgo, Antonio. (2006). Aspectos de la entonación española: Viejos y nuevos enfoques. Arco/Libros.

Hualde, José Ignacio. (2014). Los sonidos del español. Cambridge University Press.

Hualde, José Ignacio, Olarrea, Antxon, Escobar, Anna Maria, Travis, Catherine E., & Sanz, Cristina. (2020). Introducción a la lingüística hispánica. Cambridge University Press. (Cap. 2: “Los sonidos de la lengua: fonética y fonología”).

Iribarren, Mary C. (2005). Fonética y fonología españolas. Síntesis.

Katz, William F., & Assmann, Peter F. (Eds.). (2019). The Routledge Handbook of Phonetics. Routledge.

Martínez Celdrán, Eugenio, & Fernández Planas, Ana María. (2007). Manual de fonética española: Articulaciones y sonidos del español. Ariel.

Navarro Tomás, Tomás. (1918). Manual de pronunciación española (21ª ed. 1982). CSIC.

Navarro Tomás, Tomás. (1945). Manual de entonación española (4ª ed. 1974). Guadarrama.

Obediente, Enrique. (2007). Fonética y fonología (3ª ed.). Consejo de Publicaciones, Facultad de Humanidades y Educación, Universidad de Mérida. (Primera ed. 1998).

Penas Ibáñez, María Azucena. (2014). Panorama de la fonética española. Arco/Libros.

Quilis, Antonio. (1981). Fonética acústica de la lengua española. Gredos.

Quilis, Antonio. (1993). Tratado de fonología y fonética españolas. Gredos.

Real Academia Española. (2011). Nueva Gramática de la Lengua Española: Fonética y Fonología [i DVD Las voces del español: tiempo y espacio]. Espasa.

Román Montes de Oca, Domingo. (2011). Manual para el análisis fonético acústico. Pfeiffer.

Sosa, Juan M. (1999). La entonación del español: Su estructura fónica, variabilidad y dialectología. Cátedra.

 

Learning resources


Software


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 2 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 3 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 2 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 3 Spanish first semester morning-mixed