Pronunciation and Phonetics : A Practical Guide for English Language Teachers

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This engaging, succinct text is an introduction to both phonetics and phonology as applied to the teaching of pronunciation to English language learners. Section 1 selectively covers the main areas of phonetics and phonology, without going into any area in more depth than the average English language teacher requires or that the average English language teacher trainee can handle. Section 2 focuses on practical issues related to learners and how they learn languages, and what represents good practice in terms of classroom activities for pronunciation--including aspects such as targets, motivation and priorities. The chapters end with activities to help the reader understand concepts. Section 3 provides innovative sample activities which put into practice the theoretical points covered in the first two sections, answers to the various exercises, recommended further reading (both print and non-print), a glossary of technical phonetic terms, and a bibliography of works on pronunciation teaching. The text is accompanied by a Companion Website with audio recordings of model pronunciations and audio material relating to the activities.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Symbols for English Sounds
• Preface
• Section I Phonetics
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Accents of English worldwide
• 3 Airstreams and the vocal cords
• 4 Cardinal vowels
• 5 Vowels
• 6 The vocal organs and consonant classification
• 7 Plosives and nasals
• 8 Fricatives and affricates
• 9 Approximants
• 10 Non-English sounds
• 11 Syllable structure
• 12 Phonemes
• 13 Accent differences
• 14 Phonology
• 15 Weakening and linking
• 16 Assimilation and elision
• 17 Connected speech processes
• 18 Pausing and speed
• 19 Word stress
• 20 Tone groups
• 21 Tones
• 22 Rhythm
• 23 Voice quality
• Section II Pronunciation Teaching
• 24 Targets
• 25 Integration
• 26 The effectiveness of pronunciation teaching
• 27 Motivation and affect
• 28 Fossilization
• 29 First language influence
• 30 Importance
• 31 Spelling: History
• 32 Spelling: Literacy
• 33 Nonverbal communication
• 34 Listening
• 35 Testing
• Section III Sample Exercises
• Sample exercises
• Answers to exercises
• Resources
• Glossary
• References