Module 2-1
Module 2-1
Phonetics: The study of actual sounds that make up the words of a language.
- There are 44 sounds in English language.
- A phonemic chart gives different sounds shown with different symbols.
- The sounds are classified as vowels and consonants.
- vowels are classified as monothongs and diphthongs.
- consonants are classified as voiced and unvoiced sounds.
Vowels – The are speech sounds produced by humans when the breath flows out of the mouth without being
blocked by teeth, tongue or lips.
A distinct way of pronouncing a language, especially one associated with a particular country or area.
1 Pronunciation
Sounds like: pruh-nun-see-AYE-shun
2 Cupboard
Sounds like: cuh-bud
3 Epitome
Sounds like: eh-PIT-oh-mee
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4 Salmon/almond
Sounds like: SAM-un, ARM-und
5 Library/February
Sounds like: lye-bruh-ree, feb-roo-air-ree
6 Definitely
Sounds like: DEF-in-ut-lee
7 Ask
Sounds like: arrsk
8 Wednesday
Sounds like: WENZ-day
9 Stomach
Sounds like: STU-muk
10 Clothes
Sounds like: clohthz
11 Especially/escape/espresso
Sounds like : es-PESH-ul-lee/es-CAYP/es-PRES-so
12 Probably
Sounds like: PROB-ub-blee
13 Yolk
Sounds like: yohk
14 Desert/ dessert
● desert (to leave someone or something and no longer help them) dizz-URT
● dessert (a sweet dish at the end of a meal) dizz-URT
15 Women
Sounds like: WI-min
16 Southern
Sounds like: SUTH-un
17 Iron
Sounds like: EYE-un
18 Specific
Sounds like: speh-SI-fik
19 Sixth
Sounds like: siksth
20 Crowd/cloud
Sounds like: k-Rowd/k-Lowd
Rules for pronouncing vowels
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1) A Vowel is followed by a Consonant at the end of a word is pronounced as a short vowel. It means when
a word or syllable ends with a consonant and there is only one vowel, the sound made is of a short vowel.
Examples: bed, mat, lot, cat, fish
2) When a word ends with the vowel “e”, then it remains silent while pronouncing the word (do not read out
loud), and the vowel that comes before it, is a long vowel.
Examples: fake, bake, file, make, rope
3) When two vowels appear next to each other in a Syllable, the second vowel is generally short and the
first vowel is pronounced as a long vowel.
Examples: boat, beat, leaf, pain, grow, true, beat, train, load
4) If a Vowel is followed by two Consonants at the end of a word, it is pronounced as a short vowel.
Examples – bark, want, hand, wish
5) When a Vowel is a final letter in a Word (comes last), it is pronounced as a Long Vowel.
Examples – pi, go, be, he
The letter "g" comes close to following a phonics rule similar to the one for the letter "c." For example, it is
always pronounced /g/ unless it is followed by an "e," "i" or "y." Thus, we have game, got, and gum, as well
as glad, grand, and rugby. And, as with the "Rule of c," it's true that the letter "g" makes the /j/ sound only
when followed by "e," "i" or "y,." Unfortunately, however, you can’t be certain that it will be pronounced /j/.
In some such cases "g" still makes the /g/ sound.
The letter c represents /s/ before the letters e, i or y; otherwise it represents /c/.
At the beginning of words, 'th' is nearly always unvoiced: thick, theory. Exceptions the very common
'function words': the, this/that, these/those, then, there (and therefore), they/them/their and the older
thou/thee/thy/thine, thence, thenceforth.
At the end of words, 'th' is also unvoiced, except when it's followed by a silent -e. Bath (unvoiced); bathe
(voiced).
Between two vowels, 'th' is normally voiced: feather, rather. Exceptions: inflected forms of words ending in
unvoiced 'th'. So bathing < bath has unvoiced 'th'; bathing < bathe has voiced 'th'.
Spelling Rules
2. Changing -y to -ies or -s
When the word ends in a vowel + y just add ‘s’
key → keys
delay → delays
trolley → trolleys
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company → companies
difficulty → difficulties
When a word has one syllable + 1 vowel next to 1 consonant we double up the final consonant with a vowel
suffix:
sit - sitter, big - biggest, tap - tapping, shop - shopper/shopping, fat - fatten, fattening, fatter, fattest...
This happens in longer words when the stress is on the final syllable:
begin (beGIN) - beginner, beginning
refer (reFER) - referring, referred
occur (ocCUR) - occurring, occurred, occurrence
We keep the 'e' if the word ends in –CE or –GE to keep a soft sound, with able/ous
courage + ous = courageous
notice + able = noticeable
7. -f to -ves or -s
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The suffix –ful is always spelt with one L, for example:
When we add -ly to words ending in -ful then we have double letters
gratefully faithfully hopefully
Stress Shift
While pronunciation is important, sometimes it’s just as important to get the word stress correct . English
words always have one part (syllable) that is stressed more strongly than others, this is called the primary
stress. Correct primary stress helps the listener to understand your speech.
If you slightly mispronounce a word, but the primary stress is correct, you can often communicate it’s
meaning. So, stress is important, especially for words you use often.
Intonation
Intonation is primarily a matter of variation in the pitch of the voice. In such languages as English, it is often
accompanied by stress and rhythm to produce meaning.
Purpose of intonation
It allows the speaker to convey emotions and attitudes in speech, such as finality, joy, sadness, etc.
Intonation also allows the speaker to stress certain words. In addition, intonation can help the speaker
convey the grammar of the spoken words by pausing at certain points, for example, or by raising the voice to
ask a question. In addition, intonation can help the speaker convey what he or she expects of the listener(s)
in discourse by, for example, seeming to ask a question or by conveying when something is new information
in contrast to information the listener already knows.
Patterns of intonation
Statements
Nice to meet ➘ you. I’ll be back in a ➘ minute.
Commands
Write your name ➘ here. Show me what you’ve ➘ written.
Exclamations
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How nice of ➘ you! That's just what I ➘ need!
Yes/no Questions
Have you finished ➚ already? May I borrow your ➚ dictionary?
Questions tags that show uncertainty and require an answer (real questions).
We've met already, ➚ haven't we? You like fish, ➚ don't you?
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12. According to phonetics method, the unit of a word is _______
A. sentence B. word C. sound D. letters
13. Which of the following has /:i/ sound_______
A. car B. seat C. fit D. books
14. The word “Doctor” has _______ syllable.
A. two syllable with one stress B. two syllable with stress on both
C. two syllable with stress on first D. two syllable with stress on second
15. I ______ now London very well. (Find out the missing letter)
A. now B. know C. knew D. known
16. People read ________salms and sing hymns in church.
A. phsalms B. psalms C. sslams D. pisalms
17. Which of the following spellings is correct?
A. acknowlegment B. acknowledgement C. acknowlegment D. acknowledgement
Find the correctly spelt word:
A. schedule B. skhedule C. schedeule D. schdule
Find the correctly spelt word:
A. Accommodetion B. Accommodation C. Acommodation D. Akcomodation
Find the correctly spelt word:
A. vetarinary B. veterniarry C. vetranary D. veterinary
Find the correctly spelt word:
A. Occasion B. Occassion C. Ocasion D. Ocassion
18. Diphthong is a
A. pure vowel sound B. pure consonant sound
C. vowel glides or mixes vowel sound D. none of the above
19. Phonetics deals with the study of _______
A. grammar B. literature C. speech sounds D. writing skills
20. How many speech sounds do we have in English language?
A. 26 B. 36 C. 24 D. 44
21. Which of the following has a / θ / sound?
A. The B. This C. Think D. That
22. The word “eye” has how many speech sounds?
A. one B. two C. three D. four
23. The word “Mingle” has ______ syllables.
A. one B. two C. three D. four
24. Select the silent letter in “yatch”
A. t B. ch C. a D. ht
25. Select the silent letter in “thought”
A. ou B. gh C. t D. ugh
26. Select the silent letter in “fasten”
A. t B. s C. te D. st
27. Select the silent letter in “Honest”
A. o B. H C. on D. e
28. Select the silent letter in “parliament”
A. ia B. i C. nt D. lia
29. Which of the following has /ei/ sound?
A. about B. date C. boy D. cow
30. Which of the following has /dʒ/ sound?
A. choose B. horse C. just D. bush
31. Which of the following has / t ʃ/ sound?
A. choose B. chemistry C. character D. cat
32. Select the correctly spelt / stressed word: Computer
A. compuT´er B. comP´uter C. ´Computer D. com´PUter
33. Select the correctly spelt / stressed word: Behave
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A. beha´Ve B. ´Behave C. Be´HAVe D. be´HAve
34. Select the correctly spelt / stressed word: Address
A. ´Address B. Ad´Dress C. Add´Ress D. Addre´ss
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