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Catalan Phonology

Code: 105829
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Catalan Philology: Literary Studies and Linguistics OB 2
English and Catalan Studies OB 2
Catalan and Spanish Studies OB 2

Contact lecturer

Name :
Francesc Josep Torres Tamarit
Email :
francescjosep.torres@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Eulàlia Bonet Alsina

Group languages

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

Prerequisites

It is recommended that students have completed the first-year Catalan language courses and some course on phonetics.

Objectives

The objective of this course is to identify and characterize the main phonological processes of Catalan from a formal, rule-based derivational approach, with special attention to the most widespread dialectal varieties.

Learning outcomes

  1. Identify principal and secondary ideas and express them using correct language.
  2. Describe the articulatory characteristics of the sounds of Catalan.
  3. Express oneself with orthophonic correctness in standard Catalan.
  4. Correctly identify linguistic units.
  5. Analyse linguistic structures.
  6. Determine register types on the basis of phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics.
  7. Produce normatively correct written and oral texts.
  8. Interpret texts in depth and provide standpoints from which to analyse them critically.
  9. Produce written work and oral presentations that are effective and framed in the appropriate register.
  10. Gain a greater capacity for reading, interpreting and critically analysing literary and linguistic texts.
  11. Make appropriate use of the knowledge acquired in order to collect data and handle documentary sources in the study of Catalan language and literature.
  12. Work self-sufficiently on the synchronic and diachronic study of Catalan language and literature.
  13. Respect the opinions, values, behaviour and customs of others.
  14. Distinguish between grammatical gender and natural gender.
  15. Identify the main and secondary ideas and express them with linguistic correctness.
  16. Develop effective written work and oral presentations and adapted to the appropriate register.
  17. Strengthen the capacity of reading, interpretation and critical analysis of literary texts and language.
  18. Properly apply the knowledge gained to data collection and management of documentary sources application to the study of Catalan language and literature.
  19. Work independently in the synchronic and diachronic study of Catalan language and literature.
  20. Produce written and oral texts with correction rules.
  21. Analyze properties phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical and semantic language that current problems arise.
  22. Apply the principles of correctness required in the standard language and the different registers and variants.
  23. Analyze linguistic structures.
  24. Identify the source of errors in the use of language by non-native speakers.
  25. Use technological resources (digital and audiovisual) to acquire knowledge and apply it in language and literature.
  26. Maintain an attitude of respect for the opinions, values, behaviors and practices of others.
  27. Characterise linguistic phenomena taking into account the different levels of analysis.
  28. Justify by means of appropriate terminology the analysis of data from a linguistic point of view.
  29. Identifying the main and secondary ideas and expressing them with linguistic correctness.
  30. Analyse the most problematic phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical and semantic properties of the present-day language.
  31. Analyse various types of linguistic data.
  32. Appropriately use the different available formal and technical resources.
  33. Identify the source of errors in the use of language to non-native speakers.
  34. Analyzing linguistic structures.
  35. Plan work effectively, individually or in groups, in order to fulfil the planned objectives.
  36. Locate specialised and academic information and select this according to its relevance.
  37. Make use of the knowledge acquired while respecting diversity of opinion and varieties of a language.
  38. Identifying different theoretical options or ways of dealing with the same problem from alternative theoretical frameworks.
  39. Use basic methods for compiling and processing linguistic data.
  40. Incorporate ideas and concepts from published sources into work, citing and referencing appropriately.

Contents

  1. Foundations of phonology
  2. Essential phonological concepts
  3. Phonological processes that affect vowels
  4. Syllable structure and epenthesis
  5. Lexical processes that affect consonants
  6. Postlexical processes that affect consonants
  7. Phenomena with lexical and postlexical application
  8. Other processes

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
In-class exercises and problem-solving 45 1.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40
Study and reading of selected texts 54 2.16 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40
Explanation of the syllabus and discussion of problems 45 1.8 1, 2, 4, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 21, 26, 29, 30

Explanations of the various concepts and phenomena will be combined with discussion and problem-solving activities.

Note: 15 minutes of one class session, within the schedule established by the department/program, will be reserved for students to complete surveys evaluating the instructor's performance and the course/module.

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

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Final mixt test 50% 1.5 0.06 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40
Exercise test 25% 1.5 0.06 2, 4, 5, 14, 21, 23, 30
Test on phonetic transcription and phonological characterization using features 10% 1.5 0.06 2
Concept test 15% 1.5 0.06 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 15, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 29, 30

Continuous Assessment

  • Test on phonetic transcription and phonological characterization in features: 10%
  • Concepts test: 15%
  • Exercise-solving test: 25%
  • Mixed final exam: 50%


Exchange students who request to take an exam early must provide the lecturer with a written document from their home university justifying their request.


At the time of each assessment activity, the lecturer will inform students (via Moodle) of the procedure and date for the review of grades.


Single Assessment

  • Oral practical-theoretical test: 50%
  • Mixed final exam: 50% (this coincides with test 4 of the continuous assessment)


The same reassessment system as for continuous assessment will apply.


The final grade for the course will be the weighted sum of the scores obtained in each activity, which must be at least 5 (out of 10). After each test, there will always be a procedure to review the results.


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


Only students who have obtained a minimum overall grade of 3.5 and have been assessed in at least two-thirds of the course grade components will be eligible for a resit. Only the final exam can be retaken.


Errors in spelling and grammar will be penalized according to the rules established for each activity.


If a student commits any irregularity that could significantly affect the grade of an assessment activity, that activity will be graded as 0, regardless of any disciplinary process that may follow. If multiple irregularities occur across activities, the final grade for the course will be 0.


In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted in any phase. Any work that includes AI-generated content will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and may result in a partial or full grade penalty on the assignment, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.

Bibliography

Bonet, Eulàlia i Maria-Rosa Lloret. 1998. Fonologia catalana. Barcelona: Ariel. http://ddd.uab.cat/record/132995

Lloret, Maria-Rosa. 2011. La fonologia del català. Barcelona: Santillana.

Prieto, Pilar. 2004. Fonètica i fonologia. Els sons del català. Barcelona: Editorial UOC

Recasens, Daniel. 1993. Fonètica i fonologia. Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana.

Solà, Joan, Maria-Rosa Lloret, Joan Mascaró, Manuel Pérez Saldanya (eds.). 2002. Gramàtica del català contemporani. Volum I. Barcleona: Empúries.

Software

No software is required.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed