Lpe2403 Lecture Notes - Unit 1 (Week 1 - 2)
Lpe2403 Lecture Notes - Unit 1 (Week 1 - 2)
Lpe2403 Lecture Notes - Unit 1 (Week 1 - 2)
UNIT 1
SPEAKING ACCURATELY
UNIT 1: SPEAKING ACCURATELY
Overview
1. In this unit, you will learn the English sound system, syllable stress, sentence stress
and intonation in conveying meaning and achieving clarity in your speech.
Objectives
At the end of this unit, you will be able to:
1. produce the correct sounds of words using the phonetic symbols (IPA),
2. use correct syllable stress and sentence stress,
3. use intonation effectively to achieve clarity in speaking.
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Week 1 - The English Sound System
Pre-activity
Read aloud the following poem. Then listen carefully to your teacher reading the poem by
paying attention to the sounds of words in the poem. Answer the questions that follow.
1. After reading the poem, what can you say about the sounds of words in English?
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In English, the sound of a word is not determined by its spelling. This may create problems
to English language learners in pronouncing words. To standardise the sounds of words in
the English language, the phonetic symbols in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) are
used. The IPA is a system where a symbol is associated with a particular sound. The use of
symbols to represent the sounds of words is called phonetic transcription. Slashes (/ /) are
used with phonetic transcriptions to indicate the sound of the symbols. By using the IPA
symbols, you are able to know exactly how to pronounce any word in English.
Generally, the sounds can be categorised into three classes which are:
1. consonant
2. vowel
3. diphthong
Consonant sounds
There are twenty-four consonant sounds in the English language. These are shown in the
table below.
Table 1
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14. /z/ /zɪp/ zip /nəʊz/ nose
Activity 1
Use the online dictionary https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/ to transcribe the
following words. Refer to Table 1. Underline and make the consonant sounds in each
transcription. Then practise saying the sound of each word correctly.
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Vowel Sounds
There are twelve vowel sounds in English which can be divided into two categories:
1. short vowel
2. long vowel
The symbol ( : ) indicates that the vowels are long. The sound of a long vowel is slightly
longer.
Table 2
Activity 2
Refer to Table 2. Underline and make the vowel sounds in the phonetic transcriptions
below. Then practise saying the sound of each word correctly.
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Diphthong Sounds
A diphthong refers to the combination of two adjacent vowel sounds occurring in the same
syllable of a word. The combination of the two sounds gives a unique vowel sound. Table 3
shows the sounds of diphthongs.
Table 3
Activity 3
Use an online dictionary (https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/) to transcribe the
following words. Refer to Table 3. Underline and make the diphthong sounds in each
transcription. Then practise saying the sound of each word correctly.
1. boat - 7. fear -
2. bear - 8. avoid -
3. buy- 9. found -
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Phonetic Symbols: Further practices
Activity 4
Refer to Table 1, 2 and 3. Practise saying the following words with correct pronunciation.
Consonants
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/m/ /n/ /ŋ/ /h/
Vowels
Diphthongs
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Correct Pronunciation of Commonly Used Words in Discussions
Below are some of the common words used in discussions. Pronounce the words correctly
by referring to the phonetic symbols in Table 1, 2 and 3. You can check your pronunciation
using the online dictionary https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/.
Sentence Pronunciation
My honest opinion would be… /ˈɒnɪst/
Let me initiate the discussion. /ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/
Before we end our discussion, we need to summarise all the important /ˈsʌməraɪz/
points in the discussion.
Please allow me to finish my points first. /əˈlaʊ/
Ravi, I think the information that you quote on health is interesting. /ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃn/
I think Farrah feels that… /θɪŋk/
I think that you are absolutely right. /ˈæbsəluːtli/
There is no doubt that your point is correct. /daʊt/
/kəˈrekt/
Sorry to interrupt, but… /ˌɪntəˈrʌpt/
Activity 5
Below are some commonly used words in a group discussion. Fill in the table below with the
correct answer.
1. clarify
2. convince
3. perspective
4. consider
5. contradict
6. /ˌrekəˈmend/
7. /kənˈkluːd/
8. /əˈpəʊz/
9. /səˈdʒest/
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Activity 6
Below are 15 words that are usually mispronounced by students. Refer to the online
dictionary and write the correct phonetic transcriptions. Then pronounce the words correctly.
1. debt
2. audio
3. comfortable
4. colleague
5. collect
6. college
7. headache
8. individual
9. men
10. archive
11. pressure
12. schedule
13. though
14. niche
15. gauge
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Word Contractions
Below are the common English words that can be replaced with contractions:
am would
are have
is has
will had
Word Pronunciation
I’m /aɪm/
I’ll /aɪl/
He’ll /hiːl/
She’ll /ʃil/
They’ll /ðeɪl/
If the sound before the contraction is vowel, the contraction of have is pronounced /v/ while
would and had are pronounced /d/.
Word Pronunciation
I’ve /aɪv/
We’ve /wiːv/
They’ve /ðeɪv/
I’d /aɪd/
She’d /ʃiːd/
After a consonant, have is pronounced /əv/ while had and would are pronounced /əd/.
Word Pronunciation
could’ve /’kʊdəv/
would’ve /wʊdəv/
might’ve /’maɪtəv/
it’d /’ɪtəd/
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Pronunciation for ‘is’ and ‘has’
Word Pronunciation
he’s /hiːz/
there’s /ðeəz/
However, after /t/, /p/, /k/, /f/ or /θ/, the contraction of is or has is pronounced /s/.
Word Pronunciation
it’s /ɪts/
cop’s /kɒps/
chef’s /ʃefs/
Activity 7
Contract the words in each sentence below correctly.
1. They will be travelling to Korea for a Student Exchange Programme next semester.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. She would have taken the course if it was offered last semester.
____________________________________________________________________
4. There has been a speculation of who is going to be the president of the Student Union.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
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Week 2 – Syllable Stress
Recognising stress patterns can help distinguish the meaning of two words that appear to be
the same. Using the right stress is important, especially when a word can carry different
meanings as well as different word classes. When words are stressed correctly according to
their syllable, the information given by the speaker will be easily understood.
In phonetic transcription, the stressed syllable is marked with the stress symbol / ‘ /. The
stress symbol can be found before the syllable that needs to be stressed which means that
when we pronounce the syllable, the tone needs to be higher, longer or stronger than the
other syllables.
Syllable Stress
As in most languages, English words also come in syllables. Each syllable is not pronounced
with the same force or strength. In one word, we only accentuate (stress) on one syllable.
Pre-activity
Look at the four words below. First, pronounce the four words and determine the number of
syllables for each word:
Do they sound the same? No, because we stress on one syllable in each word, and it is not
always the same syllable. Pronounce the words again and determine which syllable that is
stressed on in each word. In the same table above, mark the syllable stress in the phonetic
transcription given.
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Basic syllable stress rules
1. One word only has one stress. (One word cannot have two stresses. If you hear two
stresses, you have heard two words, not one word.)
2. The stress is always on a vowel sound.
Activity 8
Identify the number of syllables in each word below.
Guess the syllable stress for each of the words above. Then use online dictionary to check
your answers.
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Syllable stress in English words can be found either at the beginning, in the middle or at the
end. For example:
Practice /ˈpræktɪs/
Employee /ɪmˈplɔɪiː/
Invite /ɪnˈvaɪt/
Despite some rules that you can use to decide on the position of syllable stress in the
English words, the best source of reference would be a dictionary.
Activity 9
Use an online dictionary (https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/) to identify the
syllable stress placement in the table below. Then with a partner, practise pronouncing the
words according to the correct syllable stress.
2 discuss /dɪskʌs/
3 extract /ekstrækt/
4 assist /əsɪst/
5 reply /rɪplaɪ/
6 partner /pɑːtnə(r)/
7 perceive /pəsiːv/
8 rearrange /ri:əreɪndʒ/
9 permission /pəmɪʃn/
10 variety /vəraɪəti/
11 necessary /nesəsəri/
12 meticulous /mətɪkjələs/
13 determine /dɪtɜ:mɪn/
14 expensive /ɪkspensɪv/
15 difficult /dɪfɪkəlt/
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Secondary Stress
Despite the rule of one syllable stress, some words may have another syllable stress known
as secondary stress. It is marked with lowered vertical line / , / before the syllable that needs
to be stressed. The tone of the stressed syllables should not be as loud as the primary
stress.
For example:
1) allegation /ˌælɪˈgeɪʃən/
This is a four-syllable word. The secondary stress is on the first syllable while the
primary stress is the third syllable. The stress for the third syllable /ˈgeɪ / should be
very noticeable whereas the stress for the first syllable (secondary stress) /ˌæ /
should not be as noticeable as the third syllable.
2) biological /ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkl/
This is a five-syllable word. The secondary stress is on the first syllable while the
primary stress is the third syllable. The stress for the third syllable /ˈlɒ / should be
very noticeable whereas the stress for the first syllable (secondary stress) /ˌba/
should not be as noticeable as the third syllable.
Activity 10
Transcribe the words below in phonetics with correct syllable stress by referring to an online
dictionary. Based on the phonetic transcriptions, pronounce the words aloud.
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13 engineer
14 volunteer
15 renovation
Sentence stress is the pattern of stressed and unstressed words across a sentence.
Normally this emphasis is on words that carry important information although this can
change significantly depending on the specific meaning that the speaker wants to
communicate.
Speakers of English stress key words in sentences. These are known as content words as
they carry the meaning of the sentence. Speakers do not stress on function words. Function
words are necessary for the grammar of the sentence but do not carry meaning.
Content words
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Function words
• Auxiliary verbs verbs that help another verb express its tense, mood or
voice
(is, am ,are, has, must, can, could)
Activity 11
Look at the list of words below. Determine whether it is a content or a function word.
e.g.: bully
1. thesis
2. the
3. for
4. mesmerising
5. coffee
6. were
7. she
8. slowly
9. write
10. but
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Activity 12
Identify and underline the content words in the following sentences. Then read the
sentences with appropriate stress.
1. Adelia has lived in Singapore for ten years.
2. I will fly to Japan today.
3. I expect to finish the report by this evening.
4. Would you like me to buy some fruits?
5. You will be happy to know that she has decided to retract her police report.
The general rule for sentence stress is to stress the content words. However, there is an
exception to this rule especially when we wish to emphasise on other meanings. Function
words may be stressed.
The following examples illustrate the possible meanings which are emphasised when
different words are stressed.
Maria is presenting her paper at the Maria is presenting her own paper, not
international conference today. someone else’s.
Maria is presenting her paper at the Maria is presenting her paper, not
international conference today. discussing it.
Maria is presenting her paper at the Maria is presenting her paper at the
international conference today. international conference, not somewhere
else.
Maria is presenting her paper at the Maria is presenting her paper today, not
international conference today. any other day.
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Activity 13
Underline the words that you want to stress based on the meaning that you wish to convey.
Write the emphasised meaning. Then say the sentence with appropriate stress to emphasise
the meaning.
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Week 2 - Intonation
Intonation helps to make our daily conversation becomes more interesting. It involves the
rising and falling in the way we speak. Intonation is often used to describe our emotions and
to convey meanings.
Falling Intonation
Falling intonation describes how the voice falls on the final stressed syllable of a phrase or a
group of words. It begins with a fairly high voice and gradually falls until the last syllable.
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Failure to change will destroy the country’s future. Anger
Really. I will just follow with what everyone agrees on. Disinterest
Rising Intonation
Rising intonation describes how the voice rises at the end of a sentence. It begins with a
fairly high voice. The level of voice gradually falls but rises on the last stressed word. Rising
intonation is often used for:
Uncertainty Eagerness
Surprised Happiness
Yes/No
answer
Do you have other ideas that can help us to solve the problem?
expected
A list of
and free of conflict. wishes
With the MCO lifted, I can’t wait for things to become normal again. Eagerness
That is horrifying.
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Activity 14
Decide whether the sentences below use Rising or Falling intonation in normal conversation
by drawing the rising arrow ( ) or falling arrow ( ) in the parentheses.
Activity 15
Identify the intonation whether it is falling or rising in each sentence based on the emotion
indicated in the parentheses. Then, read each sentence using the correct intonation.
6. Ok. I’ll join the meeting when I’m done with my work. (Disinterest)
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