Phonetics and Phonology in English and Spanish

Phonemic or Phonetic Transcription?

In ELT, the type most frequently employed is phonemic transcription for different reasons:

  • It centers on the pronunciation difficulties posed by foreign learners to produce the different phonemes that make up the English phonological system and affect meaning, e.g. the fine distinctions of vowel quality necessary to produce the twelve pure English vowels, which should be our main concern as teachers and learners.
  • It is more economical; it does not use so many symbols
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Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication in EFL

Communication in the Foreign Language Classroom

UNIT 2: Communication in the Foreign Language Classroom. Verbal Communication. Non-Verbal Communication. Extralinguistic Strategies: Non-Verbal Reactions to Messages in Different Contexts.

0. Introduction

Every act that a human being performs has a communicative purpose. Non-verbal language not only supports verbal language but also conveys other meanings that are necessary to code and decode. Since the 1970s, the belief that language is a means of communication

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Oral Language Skills in Primary Education

Unit 7: Oral Language

Oral Language. The complexity of global listening comprehension: from hearing to active, selective understanding. Moving into speech: from imitation to free production.

0. Introduction

Learning a language usually has a main practical objective: to communicate in that language. But communicating in a language is a complex activity that implies mastering a set of skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Communicative competence is therefore acquired by being competent

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Audiolingual Method: Theory, Techniques, and Classroom Practices

Audiolingual Method (ALM) Theory

The descriptive practices of structural linguistics suggested a number of hypotheses about language learning. Since speech was held to be primary and writing secondary, it was assumed that language teaching should focus on mastery of speech and that writing, or even written prompts, should be withheld until reasonably late in the language learning process. Since the structure is what is important and unique about a language, early practice should focus on mastery

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English Phonological System: Sounds & Pronunciation

Unit 9: The English Phonological System

Unit 9: Description of the English Phonological System. Pronunciation Models and Learning Techniques. Perception, Discrimination, and Emission of Sounds, Intonation, Rhythm, and Stress. Phonetic Correction.

0. Introduction

Sound is the most universal and natural medium for the transmission of language. We possess the ability to produce speech by using our body’s speech mechanism. The speech chain can be summarized in three stages: production, transmission, and

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Mastering English Phonology: A Comprehensive Analysis

English Phonological System: Models and Learning Techniques

This essay explores the English phonological system, dividing the topic into five parts. First, we will distinguish between phonetics and phonology, focusing on vowels and consonants. Second, we will describe segmental (vowel and consonant systems) and suprasegmental features (stress/accent, rhythm, and intonation). Next, we will introduce the importance of a pronunciation model. Then, we will focus on teaching and learning pronunciation,

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