Page 10 - DENG101_Communication Skills-I

Unit 1: Simple Rules of Pronunciation and Intonation

Notes

Online link www.ethnologue.com
Many people think that pronunciation is what makes up an accent. It may be that pronunciation

is very important for an understandable accent. But it is intonation that gives the final touch that
makes an accent native.
Intonation is known as the use of pitch or tone in a sentence to convey meaning or emotion.
Although the term when strictly used applies only to the pitch of speech, it is sometimes used
loosely to indicate also the emphasis and pacing used in the spoken language.
Intonation is the “music” of a language, and is perhaps the most important element of a good
accent. Often we hear someone speaking with perfect grammar, and perfect formation of
the sounds of English but with a little something that gives them away as not being a native
speaker.

Therefore, it is necessary to realize that there is more than the correct pronunciation of the vowels
and consonants of a language. This is very important and we do stress it in other articles. But it is
only one of the three components to an accent, pronunciation, intonation, and linking.

There are two very simple rules about word stress:

Example: One word has only one stress. (One word cannot have two stresses. If you
hear two stresses, you hear two words. Two stresses cannot be one word. It is true that there can
be a “secondary” stress in some words. But a secondary stress is much smaller than the main
[primary] stress, and is only used in long words.)

1.2 We can only Stress Vowels, not Consonants

Here are some more, that can help you understand where to put the stress. But do not rely on
them too much, because there are many exceptions. It is better to try to “feel” the music of the
language and to add the stress naturally.
Rule 1: Stress on fi rst syllable

Rule Example
Most 2-syllable nouns PRESent, EXport, CHIna, TAble
Most 2-syllable adjectives PRESent, SLENder, CLEVer, HAPpy

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