Understanding Phonology
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When we study phonology, we examine the system of sounds in a language. As authors Curzan and Adams explain, "sounds are the fundamental building blocks of language" (How English Works, p. 63). Phonemes are the individual sounds or segments in a language. Although phonemic understanding comes naturally in one's first language(s), it is an entirely different matter when learning a second language.
Producing a particular sound involves proper placement of the tongue, teeth, lips, and vocal tract. This can be difficult for ELLs in an elusive language like English where silent letters, irregular spellings, and various vowel pronunciations abound. However, ELL students can learn different phonemes through explicit instruction of mouth placement and lessons on vowel and consonant pronunciation.
Producing a particular sound involves proper placement of the tongue, teeth, lips, and vocal tract. This can be difficult for ELLs in an elusive language like English where silent letters, irregular spellings, and various vowel pronunciations abound. However, ELL students can learn different phonemes through explicit instruction of mouth placement and lessons on vowel and consonant pronunciation.
ResourcesEnglish is a complicated language. In fact, there are only 26 letters to represent over 44 different sounds. The International Pronunciation Alphabet and the Color Vowel Chart can help students in sorting through various sounds. |
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- The International Phonetic Alphabet Chart
An important resource for language instructors, although I would avoid giving this to most ELL students.
- The Color Vowel Chart
A great resource for both teachers and students, alike.