Phonology One

Phonology studies how sounds are organized in a language, focusing on the sound system.

Sounds are the basic units of language, the raw material from which words and sentences are built.

A phoneme is a distinct sound in a language that can change the meaning of a word. For example, the /p/ sound in 'pin' is different from the /b/ sound in 'bin'.

The phonemic chart is a visual representation of all the sounds (phonemes) in a language.

Understanding pronunciation at the level of sounds, words, sentences, and whole texts is crucial for teachers to effectively guide learners' pronunciation.

Speech came before written language, making sounds the foundational element of communication. Learning to speak is usually mastered before reading and writing.

In phonology, a sound refers to a phoneme, a specific sound that distinguishes meaning in a language.

The ability to analyze pronunciation at various levels allows teachers to highlight key features and provide visual resources for learners. This helps learners become more understandable and fluent.

The smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish two words.

Variations of a phoneme that occur in different environments.

A phoneme that is produced by blocking the airflow completely or partially, or by creating friction.

A speech sound produced without significant constriction of the airflow in the mouth.

The area behind the upper teeth where sounds like /t/ and /d/ are made.

The organs involved in producing speech sounds.

A change in a phoneme's pronunciation due to the influence of surrounding sounds.

The principle that we unconsciously adapt our speech to minimize effort.

The chart containing all the sounds of all languages.

The chart containing all the sounds needed to speak a specific language or dialect.

The potential for confusion in meaning due to incorrect pronunciation.

The ability of a listener to understand speech despite occasional errors in pronunciation.

A clear and distinct pronunciation of sounds.

The standard form of a language, often based on a particular region or social group.

A variation of a language spoken in specific regions or by particular groups.

The soft part of the roof of the mouth, located behind the hard palate. It plays an important role in producing sounds like /k/ and /g/.

A sound made by stopping the airflow completely and then releasing it quickly, creating a burst of air.

A sound made by partially blocking the airflow, creating friction and a hissing sound.

A sound that involves both a stop and a fricative element. It starts like a stop, then releases into a fricative.

A sound produced by allowing air to escape through the nose.

A sound produced by partially blocking the airflow and letting it escape at the sides of the tongue.

A consonant that has vowel-like qualities and often appears before vowels. Examples in English include /j/ and /w/

A consonant where the articulators (tongue, lips) come close together but not enough to cause friction or a complete closure.

A consonant that can be held for a sustained period without changing its quality.

The vibration of the vocal cords during sound production. Sounds can be either voiced (with vibration) or unvoiced (without vibration).

The monophthongs /iː/, /uː/, /ɒ/, and /æ/ are produced by positioning the tongue in four distinct positions within the mouth.

The distance between the tongue's highest front and highest back positions.

The distance between the tongue's highest back and lowest back positions.

The distance between the tongue's lowest front and lowest back positions.

A longer vowel sound, denoted by two dots after the vowel symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

The most common sound in English, often occurring in unstressed syllables. It's represented by the symbol /ə/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

A theory suggesting that English pronunciation is characterized by a rhythmic pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

The length of a vowel sound can make a difference in word meaning or understanding.

A sound created by sliding from one vowel position to another.

A sound that shifts through three vowel positions.

The smooth transition between the two vowel sounds in a diphthong.

Diphthongs where the glide moves towards the central vowel /ə/.

Diphthongs where the glide moves towards either /ɪ/ or /ʊ/.

Teaching pronunciation by identifying and differentiating similar sounds.

Teaching pronunciation by recognizing a specific sound without comparison.

Teaching pronunciation by practicing producing the target sound.

The tendency for learners to rely on their native language's sounds when producing English.

A strategy for improving learners' pronunciation by comparing and contrasting their native and target sounds.

The ability of learners to adapt to the sounds of English.

A strategy for teaching pronunciation that involves repeatedly practicing sounds and words.

The tendency for learners to persist in using their native language sounds even after repeated practice.

A strategy for teaching pronunciation that involves presenting sounds in a clear and visually engaging way.

Teaching pronunciation through activities that focus on practical communication.

A pair of words that differ by only one phoneme. For example, 'cat' and 'cot' are a minimal pair because they only differ in the vowel sound.

Exercises designed to help learners distinguish between similar sounds. These exercises often use minimal pairs and focus on pronunciation.

The ability to recognize and distinguish between different sounds. Essential for learning a new language and developing accurate pronunciation.

The process of producing sounds correctly. It involves mastering the articulation and coordination of the vocal organs to create specific sounds.

The study of how sounds are organized in a language, focusing on the sound system and how sounds interact with each other.

The study of how sounds are organized in a language, focusing on the sound system.

Sounds produced by partially blocking the airflow, creating friction and a hissing sound.

Sounds produced by blocking the airflow completely and then releasing it quickly, creating a burst of air.

The International Phonetic Alphabet: a chart containing all the sounds of all languages.

The sound that is most common in English.

A theory suggesting that English pronunciation is characterized by a rhythmic pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

A distinctly holistic approach to understanding sound production, focusing on the overall settings of facial muscles and articulators in specific languages.