content1. Introduction2. Problem Analysis3. Problem Analysis: Stress and Rhythm4. Problem Analysis: Intonation1. Introduction1.1 Phoneme Phoneme, in linguistics, smallest unit of speech distinguishing one word (or word element) from another, as the element p in “tap”, which separates that word from “tab,” “tag,” and “tan.”1.2 Phonemes are not lettersA letter of the alphabet may represent a phonemeA phoneme is never a letterIt is a unit of sound Phonemes are units of sound that exist in all the languages we know, whether or not they have ever been writtenProduction distortions: the pronunciation of a German speaker learning English is quite different from that of a Spanish speaker learning Englishthe distortions in the English pronunciation of a German speaker will bear great similarity to the distortions of other German speakersPerception blind spots:Phonemic differences in the foreign language will be consistently missed if there is no similar phonemic difference in the native languageE.g. Speakers may not produce final consonants since there are fewer final consonants in Vietnamese in contrast with English1.6 Comparison of sound systems and applicationsA means of predicting and describing the pronunciation problems of the speakers of a given language learning another.The results obtained from the process of comparing 2 sound systems are great practical use for the preparation of textbooks, tests, evaluation of materials, diagnosis of student problems.
CHAPTER HOW TO COMPARE TWO SOUND SYSTEMS GROUP 1: NGUYỄN THỊ HỒNG LIÊN VŨ PHƯƠNG THẢO NGUYỄN ANH THƯ CONTENT Introduction Problem Analysis Problem Analysis: Stress and Rhythm Problem Analysis: Intonation INTRODUCTION 1.1 Phoneme • Phoneme, in linguistics, smallest unit of speech distinguishing one word (or word element) from another, • as the element p in “tap”, which separates that word from “tab,” “tag,” and “tan.” 1.2 Phonemes are not letters - A letter of the alphabet may represent a phoneme - A phoneme is never a letter - It is a unit of sound Phonemes are units of sound that exist in all the languages we know, whether or not they have ever been written 1.3 Phonemic versus non-phonemic differences Phonemic differences Non-phonemic/ non- significant differences - Constantly used to distinguish - Never used to distinguish words words - Represented by phonemes - Represented by the difference b/w the exploded or unexploded, aspirated -Change the words - Remain the same words - A relatively small number of - Hundreds or thousands of nonphonemic distinctions phonemic differences 1.4 A sound system A system of habits Great strength of the system - The use of the sound system of a language operates as a system of automatic and semiautomatic habits It is extremely difficult to change anything in that system There is a strong force binding the units-the phonemes- of any language in their complex of contrasts 1.5 Transfer of native sound system Production distortions Perception blind spots • Production distortions: - the pronunciation of a German speaker learning English is quite different from that of a Spanish speaker learning English - the distortions in the English pronunciation of a German speaker will bear great similarity to the distortions of other German speakers • Perception blind spots: - Phonemic differences in the foreign language will be consistently missed if there is no similar phonemic difference in the native language E.g Speakers may not produce final consonants since there are fewer final consonants in Vietnamese in contrast with English 1.6 Comparison applications of sound systems and A means of predicting and describing the pronunciation problems of the speakers of a given language learning another The results obtained from the process of comparing sound systems are great practical use for the preparation of textbooks, tests, evaluation of materials, diagnosis of student problems PROBLEM ANALYSIS: STRESS AND RHYTHM 3.1 Introduction The analysis of problems of stress and rhythm Stress is phonemic that is significant in languages Stress and rhythm usually exert considerable pressure on other matters of pronunciation We must consider stress and rhythm in any description of pronunciation problems 3.2 STRESS AND RHYTHM • Stress is the relative emphasis or prominence given to a certain syllable in a word or to a certain word in a phrase or sentence • English has signficant degrees of stress: stress phonemes,or if we consider zero stress as phonemic • degrees of stress: fixed as to position and are describle in terms of words and phrases.They are: primary- the heaviest stress, secondary- the intermediate one and weak • the movable stress: describle in terms of sentence and sequences of sentences DEGREES OF STRESS • Primary stress: the strongest emphasis in a word of two or more syllables when it is spoken sometimes be reduced in rapid speech marked ˈ in this dictionary • Secondary stress: syllables which aren't completely unstressed, but aren't as loud as the primary stress marked with a lowered vertical line [ˌ] at the beginning of the syllable • Weak stress SENTENCE STRESS readily recognized in contrastive position: I said NOW, not next YEAR More than one sentence stress in each sentence: Getting MARried is one of the most important things that HAPpens to you Usedto tie specific parts of sequence sentence and response sentences with sentences EMPHATIC STRESS A sixth degree of stress Recognized if we grant separate phonemic status to emphatic stress Characterized by much louder and much longer rendition of the syllable which carries it ENGLISH RHYTHM • a strong pattern of sounds, words, or musical notes that is used in music, poetry, and dancing • Characterized by a primary stress in each phrase • Accompanying secondary and weak stresses with a tendency to achieve approximately the same length of time INTONATION • a feature of pronunciation and common to all languages • Intonation problems: Location and description of intonation problems English intonation Comparing two intonation languages Comparing a tone language and an intonation language Prolems of juncture and word boundaries 4.1 LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF INTONATION PROBLEMS • Pitch, the voice quality we describe as high or low on a musical scale, is used in two distinct ways in language: • as part of the sentence and phrase • as part of the word • Intonation: when pitch is used with phrases and sentence • Tone: when pitch is used to identify and differentiate words 4.2 ENGLISH INTONATION a/ Four pitch phonemes: low(l),mid(m), high(h) and extra high(x) - The level of the pitches is not steadybut wavers considerably within He’s an utterance a STUdent (A normal, matter-of-fact report) m h l He’s a STUdent m h m He’s a STUdent M h h He’s a STUdent m h x Indicating that the utterance is not finished or that the fact that he is a student is like an afterthought, having significance for something said previously Indicating mild doubt as to his being a student or as if trying to remember if he is a student Indicating strong disbelief or surprise b/ Intonation phrases • Not all the pitch evidence is relevant to the identification and operation of intonation phrases • The intonation phrase has an introductory pitch • Some intonation: 4.3 COMPARING TWO INTONATION LANGUAGES a/ Comparison of pitch phonemes • These pitch phonemes have no lexical meaning in themselves, but any one of them can change an intonation phrase into another • Same number of pitch phonemes • Different number of phonemes b/ Comparison of intonation patterns These problems are caused by intonation patternss in the foreign language that not exist in the native language or by patterns that are similar in form in the two languages but have different meanings Most of the intonation problems will stem form patterns which are the same in form in the two languages but have a different meaning in each 4.4 COMPARING A TONE LANGUAGE AND AN INTONATION LANGUAGE the comparison of the minium significant pitch units, the pitch phonemes the comparison of patterns of pitch phoneme sequences comparisons involving register tones onlys comparisons involving contour(gliding) tones and levels pitch phonemes of intonation 4.5 PROBLEMS OF JUNCTURE AND WORD BOUNDARIES word boundaries are sometimes identified by the presence of permitted sequences of phonemes at the beginning and at the end of words marked in part by the transition-juncture-between sounds at such boundaries often leveled or shifted in rapid speech THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! ... English intonation Comparing two intonation languages Comparing a tone language and an intonation language Prolems of juncture and word boundaries 4.1 LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF INTONATION... relevant to the identification and operation of intonation phrases • The intonation phrase has an introductory pitch • Some intonation: 4.3 COMPARING TWO INTONATION LANGUAGES a/ Comparison of pitch phonemes... tendency to achieve approximately the same length of time INTONATION • a feature of pronunciation and common to all languages • Intonation problems: Location and description of intonation problems