Phonology

Teaching Language Arts

Prepared by: Gureysha Hassan

Introduction

• Definition of the topic phonology with examples

• Expanded details of the topic – phonology with examples

• The topic in relation to the impacts in a language learning classroom

• Conclusion with reference.

Phonological map of human brain

Introduction of phonology• Phonology is the study of the sound systems of

languages.• Phonology is the study of the way sounds

functions in languages.• Phonology is the patterns of sounds• Phonology tells us how various sounds form

patterns to create phonemes and their allophones.

The term refers to the patterns of phonetic elements such as….• Phone-- is the minimal unit of speech

• Phoneme– is the smallest

• Allophone– is a variant of a phoneme.

PhonologyThe sound system involves: the actual pronunciation of words which can be broken up into the smallest units of pronunciation, known as a segment or a phoneme. Eg: The words pat, chat and fat.

Change of a phoneme in a word creates a different word ( Eg. . /kæp tæp læp/).

Errors in pronunciation can be either allophonic or phonological for eg. Pat is heard as bat by the listener.

Categories of phonology• Sounds and phonemes• Vowels and consonants• Hearing• Physical demonstration• Discrimination eg. Ship / sheep or feet, seat

Features of speech• Stress

•Intonation

•Rhythm

•Tone

•Pitch

•Syllable structure

Importance

• The way in which foreign languages links phonemes together, physically carries out sequences of sounds in stressed and unstressed position in speech,

• shapes words and build up word combination and gives them rhythm in sentence and longer stretches. (Lehtonenetal 1977 9-10)

Impacts of phonology in a language learning classroom

• Incorrectly articulated consonants will affect the production of vowels, as vowels will affect consonants

• Some words are spelled differently and pronounced the same eg. I and eye

• In addition some vowels are spelled the same way they are written but are pronounced differently eg. Blood/spoon

• This is one of the most problematic problems for young learners face in the classrooms

Some activities

• To teach or practice the differences between spelling and pronunciation can be taught:

• Using rhyming words• Cards• Fill in the blanks

• Finding silent letters • Minimal pair eg. Cab/cap, rot/lot…

Conclusion• In conclusion I would say that we (as teachers)

should have a good knowledge of understanding on how to articulate ( English sounds) correctly in order to teach our students

• Need to be a good listener• Knowledge of phonology effect and major

allophones.• Pronunciation of both mother tongue and

the target language

References

• Slide share• Ashby, p (1995) speech sounds London

Routlodge

• Bradford, B Intonation in context Cambridge– Cambridge University

• www. Academia.edu

Fun Facts About Phonology • By first grade most children understand

about 10,000 words. (Anglin, 1993,as cited in Siegler, & Akibali, 2005).

• By fifth grade children understand about 40,000 words. ( Anglin, 1993, as cited in Siegler, & Alibali, 2005).