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Digvijay Pandya, Lovely Professional University Unit 17: Connected English Speech: Accent

Unit 17: Connected English Speech: Accent Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
17.1 Word Accent
17.2 Rhythm
17.3 Assimilation
17.4 Elision
17.5 Linking
17.6 The Importance of Accent
17.7 Systemic Differences
17.8 Realisational Differences
17.9 Distributional Differences
17.10 Summary
17.11 Key-Words
17.12 Review Questions
17.13 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this Unit students will be able to:
• Understand Word Accent and Rhythm.
• Explain Assimilation and Elision.
• Describe Linking.
Introduction

Many years ago scientists tried to develop machines that produced speech from a vocabulary of pre-
recorded words; the machines were designed to join these words together to form sentences. For
very limited messages, such as those of a “talking clock”, this technique was usable, but for other
purposes the quality of the speech was so unnatural that it was practically unintelligible. In recent
years, developments in computer technology have led to big improvements in this way of producing
speech, but the inadequacy of the original “mechanical speech” approach has many lessons to teach
us about pronunciation teaching and learning. In looking at connected speech it is useful to bear in
mind the difference between the way humans speak and what would be found in “mechanical speech”.
17.1 Word Accent

Dividing a Word into Syllables
It is very important for us to know, that how a word is divided into syllables. How we divide a word
makes a big difference in? How the word would be pronounced? For example, look at these words:
1. cab-in 2. ca-bin
The first is divided after the ‘b’. This makes the ‘a’ have a short sound. The second is divided after the
‘b’. This makes the ‘a’ long sound because it is the final letter.

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