Linguistics 102 - Introduction to Sociolinguistics

Homework #3: Transcription and the IPA

due in class 1/30/2002

PART 1: Transcription Practice

Transcribe the following phrases as you pronounce them, using broad (phonemic) transcription.

1. vanilla pudding

2. modern languages

3. he's a youngster

4. red riding hood

5. nearly over

Now transcribe the words as you pronounce them, using narrow (phonetic) transcription.

1. youngster

2. personality

3. butterfly

4. diabolical

5. impossibility

PART 2: Transcribing Variation

1. Transcribe the following words as you pronounce them. Give some sort of label to your accent (e.g., New York City, Southern California, Army Brat, native speaker of Japanese, etc.), and do your best to make the transcriptions represent your normal conversational pronunciation, not some sort of reading style or the way you think you ought to pronounce the words. It may be helpful for you to say the words aloud a few times before transcribing them.

2. For each word, transcribe it as you believe it to be pronounced in General American English, Network English, unmarked average accentless American English, or whatever you want to call it - keeping in mind that this accentless accent may not exist in reality.

3. For each word, transcribe any other possible pronunciations that you know of, and label the variety that uses this alternate pronunciation as best you can.

4. For each word, comment on any specific difference in your pronunciation versus the "General American" and any alternate pronunciations. If you believe that your pronunciation and the "General American" form are identical, then write a few lines describing why you believe your pronunciation represents the unmarked American Standard.

e.g., wash

1. My dialect is Midwestern (southern Ohio). I say
2. The General American form is
3. I think some Appalachian Southerners might say
4. There seem to be two differences -- one in the vowel sound that is used, and one in the presence/absence of the extra /r/ consonant.

Words to transcribe:

humor foreign water doll

fog marry hammer full

with roof hanging chocolate

Part 3 (Optional): Additional transcription practice.

If you feel that you would benefit from some additional practice with transcription, here are some sentences for you to try. Please indicate whether you are using broad (phonetic) or narrow (phonemic) transcription.

1. Please come home.

2. Alice is going by train.

3. The angry American stormed out of the room.

4. Her knowledge of the facts is impressive.

5. I prefer sugar and cream.

6. William took pity on the young children.

7. What a display of conspicuous consumption.

8. It's always fun to have an outdoor class meeting.

9. The Olympics have been riddled with controversy.

10. All of a sudden the weather has turned very cold.