english language 3/4 metalanguage

assimilation

process that occurs when a speaker makes one sound segment sound similar to a neighbouring one (eg sandwich is generally pronounced “samwich”, the /d/ consonant sound is dropped

vowel reduction

where the vowel sounds change and the quality is reduced (eg saying ‘banana’ normally the initial and final vowel sounds are reduced to a schwa)

elision

when a speaker drops a sound segment, usually involving the omission of an unstressed vowel, consonant or syllable (eg ‘chocolate’ is generally pronounced ‘choklet’, the schwa vowel is elided making it easier to say in connected speech)

insertion

when a speaker adds a sound where there wouldnt normally be one. usually occurs when a word ending with a vowel is immediately followed by a word that begins with a vowel, or when two consonants in a row are difficult to articulate

the IPA

we use the IPA to demonstrate how a single letter (eg, 'o') can be pronounced differently depending on the letters that surround it. E.g. in 'phone' VS 'dogs'. Notice how the 'o' sound is different in each case and, as such, we'd write it differently in each case using the IPA. Same letter of the alphabet, but different sounds and thus IPA symbols.

transcription of english, using the IPA, as described by Harrington, Cox and Evans (1997)

two methods: phonemic and phonetic.

PHONEMIC = broad transcription, involves using a single symbol to represent each unique sound within a language, represented by bracketing the transcription using slashes

PHONETIC = transcribe a speech sound exactly as it is uttered, including all the individual variations and based on the context. transcribed using square brackets

volume

increase or decrease in decibels across an intonation unit. increasing volume on a single syllable can create stress

pitch

relative height, ranging between high and low, of auditory sound. natural for pitch to become high when excited or scared and be lower when we wish to sound serious or authoratative

intonation

patterns of pitch variation. falling intonation - can indicate surety, absoluteness and finality, rising intonation - lighthearted, not serious

stress

the intensity that is placed on a syllable, can change semantic meaning of a sentence depending on the word that has been stressed

tempo

the speed of which a intonation unit is delivered, can b linked to the communication of emotion or intent within a conversational exchange

alliteration

the repetition of phonemes at the beginning of words in a phrase, clause or sentence

assonance

repetition of vowel phonemes across phrases, clauses or sentences

eg: the fleet of jeeps drove through the streets

consonance

the repetition of consonant phonemes, often at syllable final boundaries

eg: the bees in the trees buzzed with ease

onomatopoeia

the process where words are created by the sounds they represent

rhythm

created when the intonation of a set of words is repeated across two or more phrases, clauses or sentences

eg: once upon a midnight dreary, while i pondered, weak and weary

rhyme

the repetition of similar phonemes at the ends of two or more words

eg: the potato cake was fake