Professor Kimberly Geeslin
email: kgeeslin@indiana.edu

MW 9:30am – 10:45am/section # 4149/3 cr./Ballantine Hall 332

S614   Topics in the Acquisition of Spanish
Topic: The Second Language Acquisition of Spanish Phonology

The purpose of this course is to examine closely the body of
research available on the acquisition of Spanish phonology by
English-speakers.  The course will be organized into three units:
the acquisition of segmental features, the acquisition of
syllabification, and the acquisition of stress.  Segmental phenomena
will be discussed, using the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis as a
point of departure, and arriving at current investigations in the
field of perceptual phonology that focus on the acquisition of voice
onset time.  Syllabification will be addressed, with attention to
the role of linguistic universals, the Principles and Parameters
Model, and the role of Universal Grammar.  Finally, second language
stress will be examined building on work done in Metrical Theory and
extending these conclusions to the theoretical framework of
Optimality Theory.

Evaluation

Daily preparation and active participation in class discussions will
be an essential component of this course. Students will complete
several short critical essays, and two or three partial
examinations.  The final project for this course will be designed in
consultation with the professor and will be presented to the class
at the end of the semester.