A Note on the English Language Sound System

The sound system of the English language consists of a number of aspects:

· Pronunciation – the production of the sounds and the letters and combinations of letters

· Stress – the emphasis of the correct syllable in a word ( MA-nage vs. maNAGE)

· Rhythm – the emphasis of the correct words in a sentence or phrase:

I was a STUdent at McLeod. (not at Winnipeg 1)

I was a STUdent at McLeod. (not a teacher)

I WAS a student at McLeod. (I’m not a student there now)

Check out the pronunciation websites in the Other Resources Section. Useful texts that discuss teaching pronunciation include:

Well Said: Advanced English Pronunciation ,Linda Grant, Heinle & Heinle Publishers, 1993.

Teaching Pronunciation: A Reference for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Marianne Celce-Murica, Donna M. Brinton, Janet M. Goodwin, Cambridge University Press, 1996.

Clear Speech: Pronunciation and Listening Comprehension in North American English, Second Edition, Judy Gilbert, Cambridge University Press, 1993.