The Sound System of The Sound System of EnglishEnglish

Education 453:10Education 453:10

PhonologyPhonology

The study of the sounds of languageThe study of the sounds of language Everyone speaks with an accentEveryone speaks with an accent

The phonological system of a language The phonological system of a language consists of its individual speech consists of its individual speech sounds, as well as its stress, rhythm, sounds, as well as its stress, rhythm, and intonation patternsand intonation patterns

PhonemesPhonemes

The smallest unit of sound that can The smallest unit of sound that can affect meaning in a languageaffect meaning in a language

Though the English alphabet has 26 Though the English alphabet has 26 letters, English speakers produce letters, English speakers produce more than 40 soundsmore than 40 sounds

International Phonetic AlphabetInternational Phonetic Alphabet

Most technical books for language Most technical books for language teachers and dictionaries use teachers and dictionaries use phonetic symbols to represent phonetic symbols to represent English sounds and to describe English sounds and to describe difficulties (Our text: p. 56, 57)difficulties (Our text: p. 56, 57)

The International Phonetic Alphabet The International Phonetic Alphabet can be used to transcribe any can be used to transcribe any language (handout)language (handout)

Pronunciation DifficultiesPronunciation Difficulties

Interference from the first languageInterference from the first language

The sounds of the first language are The sounds of the first language are imprinted very early in the child’s imprinted very early in the child’s development; however, most development; however, most children are born with the vocal children are born with the vocal equipment to produce the sounds of equipment to produce the sounds of any languageany language

Problems in EnglishProblems in English

Homographs (read and read)Homographs (read and read)

Homophones (red and read)Homophones (red and read)

Differs from language to languageDiffers from language to language

http://http://www.btinternet.com/~ted.power/phono.htwww.btinternet.com/~ted.power/phono.htmlml

Individual SoundsIndividual Sounds

Especially difficult sounds are Especially difficult sounds are thth in in thinkthink and its unvoiced equivalent and its unvoiced equivalent thth in in thenthen

Consonant clustersConsonant clusters – spl, sks, etc. – spl, sks, etc.

Some languages have no consonant Some languages have no consonant clusters; other languages use clusters; other languages use consonant clusters differentlyconsonant clusters differently

Stressed and Unstressed SyllablesStressed and Unstressed Syllables

The degree of force with which a syllable is The degree of force with which a syllable is uttereduttered

In English words of more than one syllable, In English words of more than one syllable, one of the syllables is uttered with one of the syllables is uttered with stronger stress or emphasis than others stronger stress or emphasis than others (text p. 59)(text p. 59)

Stress patterns are different in other Stress patterns are different in other languageslanguages

RhythmRhythm English has a characteristic rhythm or English has a characteristic rhythm or

stress patternstress pattern

In connected English speech the stresses In connected English speech the stresses or beats are spaced evenly through or beats are spaced evenly through sentences… John speaks French….sentences… John speaks French….

Unstressed syllables are compressed or Unstressed syllables are compressed or de-emphasized whereas in many de-emphasized whereas in many languages, equal stress is placed on all the languages, equal stress is placed on all the syllables in wordssyllables in words

Sentence StressSentence Stress In an English sentence, the words that In an English sentence, the words that

carry the most information are stressed – carry the most information are stressed – content words content words – and the less important – and the less important or grammatical function or form words are or grammatical function or form words are unstressedunstressed

ESL students may have trouble ESL students may have trouble understanding speech even if they understanding speech even if they recognize words in isolation… What do you recognize words in isolation… What do you mean? Next month or necks monthmean? Next month or necks month

http://www2.nkfust.edu.tw/~emchen/Pron/http://www2.nkfust.edu.tw/~emchen/Pron/stress_exB.htmstress_exB.htm

IntonationIntonation

English has characteristic patterns of English has characteristic patterns of rise and fall in pitch, and three basic rise and fall in pitch, and three basic levels of tone: High, Mid, and Lowlevels of tone: High, Mid, and Low

ESL students and ELLs need focused ESL students and ELLs need focused instruction on English intonation instruction on English intonation patterns…patterns…

Purposes of English IntonationPurposes of English Intonation

1.1. Communicate meaningCommunicate meaning

2.2. Communicate emotions or moodsCommunicate emotions or moods

3.3. Stress for emphasisStress for emphasis

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=-toSnwSqqz0=-toSnwSqqz0

Teaching PronunciationTeaching Pronunciation

Younger children who are learning Younger children who are learning English seldom need a great deal of English seldom need a great deal of help with pronunciationhelp with pronunciation

Learners older than 11 or 12 are Learners older than 11 or 12 are more likely to have trouble with more likely to have trouble with specific words, sounds, intonation specific words, sounds, intonation patterns… require focused patterns… require focused instructioninstruction

When to Teach PronunciationWhen to Teach Pronunciation

1.1. A student confuses or distorts A student confuses or distorts specific sounds that may interfere specific sounds that may interfere with comprehensionwith comprehension

2.2. Uses pronunciations that are Uses pronunciations that are stigmatized… tree for threestigmatized… tree for three

3.3. Distorts the pronunciation of words Distorts the pronunciation of words by stressing the wrong syllableby stressing the wrong syllable

4.4. Uses inappropriate intonationUses inappropriate intonation

How to Teach PronunciationHow to Teach Pronunciation

1.1. Read aloud oftenRead aloud often

2.2. Read the same statement several Read the same statement several different waysdifferent ways

3.3. Books on tapeBooks on tape

4.4. Language arts softwareLanguage arts software

5.5. Choral readingChoral reading

6.6. Minimal pairsMinimal pairs

…….How to Teach Pronunciation.How to Teach Pronunciation

7. Practice producing sounds7. Practice producing sounds

8. Make up sentences8. Make up sentences

9. Create posters or booklets for certain 9. Create posters or booklets for certain soundssounds

10. Allow pronunciation practice10. Allow pronunciation practice

11. Use pronunciation guides with older 11. Use pronunciation guides with older studentsstudents

12.Rehearse, read aloud, short passages12.Rehearse, read aloud, short passages

13. Be creative…skits….13. Be creative…skits….

Basic PrincipleBasic Principle

• Understanding of sounds precedes understanding of the written word.

TerminologyTerminology

Phonological Awareness – the ability to break down speech into smaller segments

Phoneme – the smallest unit of sound

Phonics – a method of teaching reading that emphasizes the association of sounds with letters letters

Classroom ConsiderationsClassroom Considerations

Phonological awareness training – teaching the sound structure of words• Auditory training

Phonics training – teaching the connection between sounds and letters• Training with print

Classroom ConsiderationsClassroom Considerations

It is important to first develop oral language skills.

Phonological awareness skills should be taught orally without print.

Phonological awareness training helps children learn vocabulary and reading skills.

Classroom ConsiderationsClassroom Considerations

Phonological awareness training improves reading, vocabulary, and syntactic skills

Phonological awareness training can be implemented in the classroom

ESL students benefit from PA training

Teaching Pronunciation AbroadTeaching Pronunciation Abroad

http://www.authorstream.com/presenhttp://www.authorstream.com/presentation/Demetrio-39388-tup2007-Imprtation/Demetrio-39388-tup2007-Improve-English-Pronunciation-Five-Questove-English-Pronunciation-Five-Questions-Stress-gives-natural-rhythm-spoions-Stress-gives-natural-rhythm-spoken-as-Education-ppt-powerpoint/ken-as-Education-ppt-powerpoint/