Attention Consonants ~ Exercises in Pronunciation

When we leave the territory of vowels and consonants, we move into the very wide universe of suprasegmental features of a language. As you can imagine, the list is long... The activities in this syllabus will address some of the more challenging features of suprasegmental pronunciation. The aim is to provide a comprehensive sampling of these features. The following list offers an overview:

Because of the influence of their first language (‘L1’) pronunciation, learners of English transform words, phrases and sentences to match their own language sounds. They sometimes consult the language rules of their mother tongue and this sometimes results in error. We can also talk about adjustments in connected speech. This is how words fit together. Native speakers put their words together in various ways in order to make their speech fluid and interesting. Because of the influence of their first language pronunciation, learners of English transform words, phrases and sentences to match their own language sounds. They sometimes consult the language rules of their mother tongue and this sometimes results in error. Some examples in relation...will follow:

a) ‘Linking’ is what happens when speakers connect the final sound of one word with the beginning sound of the next word (blackand white). Linking is common in English and it appears throughout the activities in this syllabus. You may wish to point them out to your students as the appear.

b) One common form of ‘assimilation’ is when two words influence each other and become one sound (have to -> hafta, has to -> hasta and use to -> usta) such forms may also be highlighted in the lessons.

c) ‘Epenthesis’ is what happens when speakers add a sound before (word-initial) within (word-internal) or after (word-final) a word or phrase. This additional sound can sometimes cause misunderstandings in communication or (inappropriate) ridicule from native speakers (Oh no!). Activity two (Attention Consonants) directly addresses these forms of epenthesis.