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Summaries Chapter Four

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Chapter 4 Acquiring and teaching pronunciation

How can we learn and teach the pronunciation of a second language? Learning of pronunciation depends on the phoneme, distinctive features and syllable structure. L2 phonology acquisition uses transfer from the L1, as well as reverse transfer from L2 to L1, though universal processes of language acquisition are also available. A choice of model has to be made between national varieties, different local and international  ELF accents. Intonation mistakes can be dangerous particularly when going from tone languages where intonation shows difference in lexical meaning to intonation languages. Pronunciation teaching includes phonemes, allophones, syllables, intonation etc and has mostly made use of conventional techniques of phonetic scripts, imitation, sound discrimination and communication.  

Phonemes and Distinctive Features

·     Much learning of pronunciation depends on aspects other than the 'phoneme', for example distinctive features.

·            L2 learners gradually acquire the L2 way of voicing stop con­sonants.

·            Their first language is affected by their knowledge of the second lang­uage, as well as their second being affected by their first.

 

Syllables

·    A crucial aspect of language acquisition is the mastery of syllable structure.

·   Learners often try to make their second language syllable structure fit the structure of their first language by adding or omitting vowels and consonants.

 

Processes in acquiring L2 phonology

● A crucial element in L2 phonology acquisition is transfer from the L1, which depends partly on the nature of the two phonological systems.

● Nevertheless phonological acquisition also depends on universal processes of language acquisition available to the human mind.

 

 

Models of Pronunciation

·     In teaching a native speaker variety, the choice has to be made between national varieties and between different local and class accents.
·     In teaching an international language like English (ELF), the choice is which forms work best among non-native speakers from different countries

 

 

 

Learning Intonation

·     A major L2 learning problem is moving between the two major ways of using intonation in the world’s languages: tone languages where intonation shows difference in lexical meaning and intonation languages where intonation shows grammar, attitude etc.

·     Intonation mistakes can be dangerous because it is not obvious to the participants that a mistake has been made.

 

Pronunciation and Teaching

·              Pronunciation teaching should recognise the diversity of levels of pronunciation in a language including phonemes, allophones, syllables, intonation etc.

·        The learning of pronunciation involves aspects of the learner’s first language, universal learning processes and aspects of the second language.

·        Teaching has mostly made use of conventional techniques of phonetic scripts, imitation, sound discrimination and communication.

·       Students can also be made more aware of sound features of language.