Pronunciation can be different between dialects of a language, between different languages, and even between different situations within the same language. We are in full flow, and the bright-eyed woman in her 80s in front of me is rising to the challenge I am presenting her with. A little memory test.
Definition :
Pronunciation is the way in which a word or name is spoken. It is also known as enunciation. The study of pronunciation is called phonetics. Pronunciation can be different between dialects of a language, between different languages, and even between different situations within the same language.
Aspects of pronunciation:
There are three main aspects to pronunciation:
1. The sounds of speech
2. The rhythm of speech
3. The intonation of speech
Those are made by the movement of the articulators, which are the speech organs such as the tongue, teeth, lips, and nose. The position of the articulators and the airstream determine the quality of the sound.
This is the timing and flow of the sounds. This is determined by the placement of stress and pitch in the words and phrases.
This is the pitch of the voice. This can convey a variety of emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, etc.
Examples :
native English speakers may have difficulty understanding someone with a strong accent. Likewise, someone with a strong accent may have difficulty understanding native English speakers.
1. The word 'pronunciation' is pronounced as pro-nun-see-a-tion.
2. The word 'exercise' is pronounced as eks-er-cize.
3. The word 'accent' is pronounced as ak-sent.
4. The word 'expect' is pronounced as eks-pekt.
5. The word 'access' is pronounced as ak-ses.
6. The word 'exact' is pronounced as eks-akt.
7. The word 'acquire' is pronounced as ak-kwair.
8. The word 'expert' is pronounced as eks-pert.
9. The word 'accomplish' is pronounced as ak-kum-plish.
10. The word 'expectation' is pronounced as eks-pek-ta-shun.
Rules :
There are some basic rules of pronunciation that can be followed to improve communication.
1. Learn the correct mouth and tongue placement for the sounds of the language.
2. Practice saying the sounds correctly. Repetition is key.
3. Listen to native speakers and imitate their pronunciation.
4. Record yourself speaking and listen for any errors.
5. Practice with a friend or tutor and get feedback.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, pronunciation is an important aspect of language learning. It is important to be aware of the pronunciation of words in order to be understood by others. There are a number of techniques that can be used to improve pronunciation, including shadowing, listening to audio recordings, and practicing with a native speaker.
