Fundamental definitions and identification
What is the study of the sound features used in a language to communicate meaning?
The phonology
Phonemes are divided into which three main groups on the phonemic chart?
Vowels, diphthongs and consonants
What are "minimal pairs"?
Words distinguished by only one phoneme, such as "ship" and "sheep"
What is "linking" in connected speech?
Joining words together at the word boundaries to keep speech smooth.
Why is it helpful for teachers to know the phonemic script?
It helps them use dictionaries with confidence and prepare their lessons more effectively.
What is the smallest unit of sound that can make a difference to meaning in a language?
A phoneme
What is a diphthong?
A movement from one vowel sound to another within a single syllable.
How is word stress physically produced by a speaker?
By saying the syllable with greater energy, usually higher and longer
Define "contrastive stress"
Putting stress on an unexpected word in a sentence to highlight a specific meaning.
Why might the sounds /s/ and /sh/ not be considered separate phonemes in Cantonese?
Because they can be used interchangeably in words without changing their meaning.
What do we call a set of phonemic symbols that show in writing how sounds are pronounced?
A phonemic script
What is the difference between voiced and unvoiced sounds?
Voiced sounds use the vibration of our voice, while unvoiced sounds are spoken without using our voice
Which types of words usually carry primary or main stress in a sentence?
Content words like nouns, verbs, adverbs, or adjectives
How does intonational tone change when asking a question versus making a statement?
A statement of fact usually has a falling tone, while a question often has a rising tone.
According to the text, why should teachers introduce phonemic symbols a few at a time?
To help learners remember them better rather than overwhelming them all at once.
Which phoneme is represented by the symbol /ə/?
The schwa sound
How are consonants arranged in the phonemic chart?
According to how and where in the mouth they are pronounced and whether they are voiced or unvoiced
What happens to vowels in unstressed or weak syllables?
They get shortened or sometimes disappear entirely.
What are "weak forms"?
The unstressed forms of words, such as /kən/ for 'can'.
Why has understanding a wide variety of accents become important for English learners?
Because English has become a global language, and learners need to be understood by people from many different places
What is the pattern of stress in a sentence called?
Rhythm
Give an example of a word containing a diphthong from the text.
Words like "make" (/meik/) or "so" (/səu/)
What is "sentence stress"?
The practice of saying different parts of a sentence with more or less stress (slower/louder vs. quicker / softer)
What is the purpose of intonation beyond just asking questions?
To show emotions, attitudes, and to signal the function of what we are saying (e.g, stopping speaking or emphasizing)
Identify the "structural words" in the sentence: "The girl ran to the sea"
'The' (article) and 'to' (preposition)