1st Edition
Pronunciation and Phonetics A Practical Guide for English Language Teachers
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.
Contents
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
Biography
Adam Brown is Head (International Business), Senior lecturer and research committee member, Centre for Research in International Education (CRIE), AIS St Helens, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Pronunciation and Phonetics: A Practical Guide for English Language Teachers is exactly what it claims to be—a treatment of the topic addressed to those who are new to it and who require a grounding in the practical classroom-based aspects of how to teach pronunciation to English learners. The author’s use of humor and his engaging, highly accessible writing style make this volume a valuable contribution to the field."
-Donna M. Brinton, Lecturer (Retired), UCLA
"This book represents an exceptionally valuable source of background material on phonetics that many teachers will find really valuable. ... Many will appreciate the depth of detail about phonetics, the clarity with which issues about teaching pronunciation are presented, and the valuable games and exercises in the final section of the book."
-Speak Out!
