Note that the Language Files all include sections on signed languages. We will not discuss Sign Language until Nov. 28, when Kathryn Flack Potts will give a guest lecture on the topic. You will be responsible for this material, but it is your choice whether you wish to read the sections on sign language as you go along, or read them all in preparation for Dr. Potts' lecture.
This week, you will use a combination of readings and interactive phonetics websites to familiarize yourself with the basics of articulatory and acoustic phonetics. We recommend you begin familiarizing yourself with Praat, the phonetics software we will be using, right away.
Totally Optional
For more on prescriptive grammar see the balanced and thoughtful
discussion by Mark Liberman, available Here.