1.3 Pronunciation and Fluency
Master pronunciation patterns and develop fluency in spoken English.
50 min
6 oppgaver
PronunciationIntonationStress patternsFluency
Din fremgang i kapitlet
0 / 6 oppgaver
The Sounds of English
English pronunciation can be challenging because the spelling often doesn't match the sound. The word "through" has seven letters but only three sounds!
Why Pronunciation Matters:
- Clear pronunciation helps others understand you
- Good pronunciation builds confidence
- It helps you understand spoken English better
- It's about communication, not perfection
Key Pronunciation Features:
1. Individual sounds (phonemes)
2. Word stress - which syllable is emphasized
3. Sentence stress - which words are emphasized
4. Intonation - the melody of speech
5. Connected speech - how words blend together
English Sounds That Challenge Norwegian Speakers
The "th" sounds:
- /θ/ (voiceless): think, through, bath
- /ð/ (voiced): this, that, weather
- Tip: Put your tongue between your teeth!
- /θ/ (voiceless): think, through, bath
- /ð/ (voiced): this, that, weather
- Tip: Put your tongue between your teeth!
The short "i" vs long "ee":
- ship /ɪ/ vs sheep /iː/
- bit /ɪ/ vs beat /iː/
- sit /ɪ/ vs seat /iː/
The "w" vs "v" distinction:
- wine vs vine
- west vs vest
- Tip: Round your lips for "w"
The schwa /ə/:
- The most common sound in English
- Appears in unstressed syllables
- about, banana, problem
Word Stress Patterns
Word stress means saying one syllable louder, longer, and higher in pitch.
Two-syllable nouns and adjectives:
Usually stressed on the FIRST syllable
- TAble, WINdow, HAPpy, CLEver
Two-syllable verbs:
Often stressed on the SECOND syllable
- beLIEVE, reLAX, preTEND, deCIDE
Stress changes meaning:
- REcord (noun) vs reCORD (verb)
- PREsent (noun/adjective) vs preSENT (verb)
- CONtract (noun) vs conTRACT (verb)
Longer words:
- phoTOgraphy, phoTOgrapher, photoGRAphic
- The stress often shifts with suffixes
✏️Example: Sentence Stress and Meaning
How does stress change the meaning of "I didn't say he stole the money"?
Each stress pattern implies something different:
"I didn't say he stole the money"
- (Someone else said it)
"I DIDN'T say he stole the money"
- (I definitely did not say this)
"I didn't SAY he stole the money"
- (I implied it or wrote it)
"I didn't say HE stole the money"
- (Someone else stole it)
"I didn't say he STOLE the money"
- (He borrowed it or found it)
"I didn't say he stole THE money"
- (He stole some other money)
"I didn't say he stole the MONEY"
- (He stole something else)
This shows how English uses stress to convey meaning!
📝Oppgave 1
Mark the stressed syllable in each word by underlining it:
a
photograph
b
photography
c
photographic
d
important
e
development
📝Oppgave 2
Practice these minimal pairs. Record yourself saying both words and check that they sound different:
a
ship / sheep
b
think / sink
c
wine / vine
d
bath / bat
📝Oppgave 3
Read this tongue twister slowly, then gradually speed up. Focus on the "th" sounds: "The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday."
📝Oppgave 4
Listen to two different English accents (e.g., British RP and American General) reading the same text. You can find examples on YouTube or BBC Learning English.
a
What differences do you notice in vowel sounds?
b
How is the "r" sound handled differently?
c
Which accent do you find easier to understand, and why?
📝Oppgave 5
Intonation practice. Read the following sentences aloud using rising and falling intonation as indicated, then explain how the intonation changes the meaning.
a
"You're coming to the party." (falling intonation = statement) vs. "You're coming to the party?" (rising intonation = question)
b
"That's interesting." with genuine vs. sarcastic intonation
📝Oppgave 6
Connected speech: When speaking naturally, English speakers connect words together. Practice reading these sentences naturally, paying attention to how words link together.
a
"Turn it off" - How do native speakers pronounce this in fast speech?
b
"I would have gone" - What happens in casual speech?
c
Why is connected speech important for listening comprehension?
Summary
Key Points:
1. English pronunciation is challenging because spelling often does not match sound, but learning the patterns helps greatly.
2. Individual sounds: Norwegian speakers should pay special attention to the "th" sounds (/θ/ and /ð/), the short "i" vs long "ee" distinction, and the "w" vs "v" difference.
3. Word stress follows patterns: most two-syllable nouns are stressed on the first syllable, while many two-syllable verbs are stressed on the second. Stress can change meaning (REcord vs reCORD).
4. Sentence stress determines emphasis and meaning. The same sentence can have different meanings depending on which word is stressed.
5. Intonation (the melody of speech) conveys attitudes and distinguishes statements from questions.
6. Connected speech means words blend together in natural conversation. Understanding this is essential for both fluency and listening comprehension.
Key Vocabulary:
- Phoneme - the smallest unit of sound in a language
- Stress - emphasis placed on a syllable or word
- Intonation - the rise and fall of pitch in speech
- Connected speech - how words blend together in natural speech
- Minimal pair - two words that differ by only one sound (ship/sheep)
Sources and Further Reading
- BBC Learning English - Pronunciation: bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/pronunciation
- Cambridge Dictionary Online (with audio pronunciation): dictionary.cambridge.org
- Roach, P. (2009). English Phonetics and Phonology. Cambridge University Press.
- Underhill, A. (2005). Sound Foundations: Learning and Teaching Pronunciation. Macmillan.