Phonetics and Phonology

Phonetics & Phonology

Pronunciation

Poor English pronunciation may confuse people even if you use advanced English grammar. We can use simple words and simple grammar structures that make people understand you but we cannot use "simple pronunciation". Good English pronunciation will make people understand you easily and be willing to listen to you! English teachers usually are the only source of L2 input for their students.

What is good English pronunciation?

There are three levels of English pronunciation: Level 1: People often don't understand what you want to say. You use the wrong sounds in English words. (example) Level 2: People understand what you want to say, but it is unpleasant to listen to you. (example)

Level 3: People understand you, and your English is pleasant to listen to. (example one, example two)

Level 3 will be called good pronunciation. Notice that good pronunciation is not "perfect American or British accent". You don't have to sound like the Queen of England or the President of the United States of America!!!

Why do we need to know this?

So… what ARE the problems of learning L2 pronunciation?

• Written vs. spoken language; letters vs. sounds. (orthographic interference!) • Hearing what is said vs. listening to how it's said. (we are very good at decoding meaning; bad at listening!) • Learning new (complex) articulation patterns (new gestures are (mostly) easy; but NOT when communicating)

So… what ARE the problems of learning L2 pronunciation?

• Changing established (complex) articulation patterns. (new sounds that are near to L1 sounds are especially tricky) • Making new and changed patterns automatic. (if you want to communicate, you can’t think of what your tongue and lips are doing ….)

Problem 3

Learning new (complex) articulation patterns

• The problem sounds that you identify have to be produced, articulated, pronounced! • That means learning new motor patterns ..... ..... and most of your...