UNIT 6: TEACHING PRONUNCIATION
1.Introduction:
Phonology is all about how words sound. This includes pronunciation, word stress,
sentence stress and intonation.
Phonology can seem a bit daunting, as it has its own alphabet of phonemic symbols.
Basic elements of phonology:
• Word and sentence stress.
• The Phonemic Chart.
• Producing single sounds.
• Connected speech.
• Teaching pronunciation.
2.Single words:
With single words you need to consider:
• Word stress
• Unstressed words
2.1 Word stress:
For any word with more than one syllable, we place emphasis on one part of the
word. Some words can have multiple meanings, which are shown by the use of
stress. (records) However, not all words change their stress when they move from a
noun to a verb.
2.2 Word families:
Individual words in groups called “word families” can have different stress patterns
(photograph, photographer, photographic). However, this is not always the case
(invention, inventor, inventive).
2.3 Word patterns:
Certain words endings usually have regular stress patterns. However, English loves
exceptions.
2.4 Unstressed words:
Most words in a phrase/sentence are unstressed. These words are called “weak
forms”. Unstressed words tend to be said faster. Some short structure words also
pronounced differently when unstressed.
3.Sentences:
At sentence level the main features to consider are:
Use of intonation
Use of stress
3.1 Use of intonation:
Intonation is the way your voice moves as you speak. It often conveys the speaker’s
feelings. You can use a lot of movement in your voice or hardly any at all, moving
across a wide voice range or staying within a narrow one.
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1.Introduction:
Phonology is all about how words sound. This includes pronunciation, word stress,
sentence stress and intonation.
Phonology can seem a bit daunting, as it has its own alphabet of phonemic symbols.
Basic elements of phonology:
• Word and sentence stress.
• The Phonemic Chart.
• Producing single sounds.
• Connected speech.
• Teaching pronunciation.
2.Single words:
With single words you need to consider:
• Word stress
• Unstressed words
2.1 Word stress:
For any word with more than one syllable, we place emphasis on one part of the
word. Some words can have multiple meanings, which are shown by the use of
stress. (records) However, not all words change their stress when they move from a
noun to a verb.
2.2 Word families:
Individual words in groups called “word families” can have different stress patterns
(photograph, photographer, photographic). However, this is not always the case
(invention, inventor, inventive).
2.3 Word patterns:
Certain words endings usually have regular stress patterns. However, English loves
exceptions.
2.4 Unstressed words:
Most words in a phrase/sentence are unstressed. These words are called “weak
forms”. Unstressed words tend to be said faster. Some short structure words also
pronounced differently when unstressed.
3.Sentences:
At sentence level the main features to consider are:
Use of intonation
Use of stress
3.1 Use of intonation:
Intonation is the way your voice moves as you speak. It often conveys the speaker’s
feelings. You can use a lot of movement in your voice or hardly any at all, moving
across a wide voice range or staying within a narrow one.
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