Page 10 - DENG101_Communication Skills-I
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Unit 1: Simple Rules of Pronunciation and Intonation




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          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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