Phonetics exercises using the Alvin experiment-control software

Abstract

A collection of computer exercises was developed for use in teaching phonetic transcription to students taking introductory coursework in phonetics. The exercises were developed using Alvin, a software package for the design and online control of behavioral experiments [Hillenbrand and Gayvert, J. Speech, Lang., Hearing Res. 48, 45–60 (2005)]. The main goal was to allow students to work independently on the routine drill that is needed to learn sound-symbol associations. For example, for a vowel transcription exercise, students hear naturally spoken /hVd/ syllables and are asked to choose among twelve buttons labeled with phonetic symbols. Feedback is provided on each trial, and students have the option of repeating any trials with incorrect responses. Also included are word/phrase transcription exercises in which students hear an utterance and are asked to provide a phonetic transcription. Correct transcriptions are provided following each trial, and a summary of the student's performance is displayed at the end of the exercise. Reverse transcription exercises are also included in which a phonetic transcription is displayed and the student's job is to enter the word or phrase in ordinary orthography.