[ ] PISMP SCIENCE 2011

Graphic organizer on pronunciation

3

Pronunciation

The act of uttering with articulation; the act of giving the proper

sound and accent; utterance; as, the pronunciation of syllables

of words; distinct or indistinct pronunciation.

The mode of uttering words or sentences.

There are three levels of English Pronunciation:

Level 1:People often don’t understand what you want to say. Use the wrong sounds in English words.

Level 2:People can understand what you want to say, but they have to concentrate to understand you.

Level 3:People can understand you easily.Your pronunciation is clear and pleasant.

There are only two widely understood accents of English:

1. General American (GenAm)

2. Received Pronunciation (RP), spoken in Britain

List contains the main sounds of Received Pronunciation:

a) Consonants b) Short vowelsc) Long vowelsd) Diphthongs

Worst error in pronunciation:

Talking too fast because you think it sounds native

Skipping sounds Misplacing the stress Using the wrong sounds

in a word Confusing two different

sounds

[ ] PISMP SCIENCE 2011

Graphic organizer on stress

4

Stress

The degree of force with which a syllable is uttered.

Sentence stress in English

Is the music of spoken English Sentences stress can help you to

understand spoken English, especially when spoken fast.

Sentence stress is what gives English its rhythm or “beat”.

Sentences stress is accent on certain words within a sentence.

Sentences have two types of word:o Content words

o Structure words

Content words – important words that carry the meaning or sense.

Structure words – simple words that make the sentences correct grammatically.

Word Stress

In English, do not say each syllable with the same force or strength.

One word, stress one syllable. Say one syllable very loudly and all

the other syllables very quietly. Syllables that are not stressed are

weak or small or quiet. If use word stress in your speech, will

instantly and automatically improve your pronunciation and comprehension.

Important rules about word stress

One word, one stress. (one word

cannot have two stresses. So if

hear two stresses, you have

heard two words, not one word)

The stress is always on a vowel

(a,e,i,o,u).

[ ] PISMP SCIENCE 2011

Graphic organizer on rhythm

5

Rhythm

A division of lines into short portions by a regular succession of arses and theses, or percussions and remissions of voice on words or syllables.

The pattern of strong and weak stress and short and long pronunciation.

Important for non-native

speakers to understand

and master the rhythm of

English.

Wrong words are stressed

in a sentence or if all words

are pronounced with the

same length or loudness,

the speech will be difficult

to understand.

Content words are most stress word in English and have rhythm.

Pronounced louder and longer Usually in nouns, verbs,

adjectives, adverbs and pronouns.

Example:o Nouns: Terry, car

o Verbs: eat, drive

o Adjectives: blue, large

o Adverbs: quietly, equally

o Pronouns: that, what

Function words are those words that are weaker and shorter (less stress/ rhythm).

Usually include auxiliary verbs, prepositions, conjunctions, determiners and possessive adjectives.

Example:o Auxiliary verbs: may, do

o Prepositions: under, around

o Conjunctions: but, not

o Determiners: the, some

o Possessive adjectives: my,

your

[ ] PISMP SCIENCE 2011

Graphic organizer on intonation

6

Intonation

The use of pitch or tone in a sentence to convey meaning or

emotion. Although the term when strictly used applies only to the

pitch of speech, it is sometimes used loosely to indicate also the

emphasis and pacing used in the spoken language.

Intonation (the rise and fall of

pitch when speaking)

English speakers use

intonation and pitch to focus

the listener’s attention on

what is important in the

message.

Intonation will usually rise on

that word (or stressed

syllable – if more than one

syllable)

Purpose of English

Intonation:

1. Communicate

meaning

2. Communicate

emotions or moods

Generally speaking, we can identify the

following intonations:

Rising Intonation means the pitch of

the voice increases over time [ ]↗ ;

Falling Intonation means that the

pitch decreases with time [ ]↘ ;

Dipping Intonation falls and then

rises [ ]↘↗ ;

Peaking Intonation rises and then

falls [ ]↗↘ .