English for Academic Skills
Independence
[EASI]
Session 4
Spoken English: Pronunciation
Conversation
Quick quiz
Which consonant sounds can you remember from
last session? Voiced ? Voiceless?
Quick review
By the end of this session you will be able to:
• identify stressed and unstressed syllables in
multisyllabic words
• role play making polite requests
Pronunciation
Stressed and unstressed syllables
Activity 1: How do you say these two words?
common
How many syllables in each word?
2
Which syllable is stressed?
1st syllable
salad
Stressed and unstressed syllables
Note that the first syllable is stressed:
common
salad
What do you notice about the second syllable?
Unstressed syllable
Different vowel but same sound
Stressed and unstressed syllables
The second syllable is unstressed in each case
common
salad
Let’s consider the IPA symbol for the unstressed vowel …
Stressed and Unstressed Syllables
common
salad
 The vowel in the unstressed syllable is written as
/ə/
 pronounced schwa (the neutral vowel)
Stressed and unstressed syllables
What is her job?
What is she
taking?
Stressed and unstressed syllables
How do you say these words?
photograph
photographer
How many syllables are in each word?
Which syllable is stressed?
Stressed syllables
pho/to/graph
3 syllables
pho/to/graph/er
4 syllables
Stressed and unstressed syllables
Where is the schwa / Ə / ?
photograph
photographer
Unstressed Syllables
/Ə/
photograph
/Ə/
/Ə/
/Ə/
photographer
The schwa can be any vowel: in this case, o, a and e
Activity 3: Schwa in action!
Say the words in each column:
Column 1
land
men
office
fast
unless
Column 2
England
firemen
official
breakfast
careless
What is the difference in pronunciation?
Schwa in action!
Check the difference in vowel quality
land
England
men
firemen
office
official
fast
breakfast
unless
careless
Unstressed syllables
photograph
photographer
 Find the stressed syllable
 All of the other syllables will be unstressed
 Most unstressed syllables will be a schwa, but not all
Activity 4: Multi-syllabic words
Which syllables have /ə/?
social
networking
Facebook
enormously
popular
Activity 4: Multi-syllabic words
social
networking
Facebook
enormously
popular
/səʊʃəl/
/netwɜːkɪŋ/
/feɪsbʊk/
/ɪnɔːməsliː/
/pɒpjələ/
Rules of word stress
• Stress usually on first syllable of 2-syllable nouns and
adjectives
table
dreadful
office
pretty
present
clever
record
import
• Stress usually on second syllable of 2-syllable verbs
present
report
decide
record
display
import
Stress usually on first syllable of words
There are exceptions
 Suffixes starting with -i or –u
(-ity, -ion,-ual, -ial, -ient, -ious, -ior, -ic, -ity)
implication, academic, opportunity, residual
Where is the stress?
What is the rule?
Suffixes starting with -i or -u
(-ity, -ion,-ual, -ial, -ient, -ious, -ior, -ic, -ity)
implication, academic, opportunity, residual
Stress comes on syllable before the suffix
All other suffixes no change
Words ending in –ee, - ese, -ique, -ette
• This applies to words of all syllable lengths.
Examples:
•
•
•
•
•
leasee, guarantee
racketeer, auctioneer
Taiwanese, Japanese, Chinese
diskette, kitchenette, towelette
technique, unique, physique
Compound words
• Compound nouns – stress on the first part
whiteboard
greenhouse
• Compound adjectives and verbs – stress on the
second part
old-fashioned
overwhelmed
bad-tempered
understand
Conversation skills
How many ways can you say this more politely?
Close it!
How many ways can you say this more politely?
Close it!
Please close the window.
Is it alright if I close the window?
Do you mind if I close the window?
Would you mind if I closed the window?
I don’t suppose we could close the window?
Would you be so good as to close the window?
If it is not too much trouble, would you mind closing the
window?
Politenesss
Face to Face
What other language strategies can you use to
show politeness in English?
Share with a partner
Activity 1: Match statement with politeness strategy
You look thirsty. Can I get
you a drink?
Be optimistic
Hey bro, can you lend me
your CD?
Include speaker and
listener in activity
I’ll just drop in later, if you
don’t mind.
Use familiar markers
Shall we start the activity
now?
Notice listener’s needs
and wants
Check your answers
You look thirsty. Can I get
you a drink?
Be optimistic
Hey bro, can you lend me
your CD?
Include speaker and
listener in activity
I’ll just drop in later, if you
don’t mind.
Use familiar markers
Shall we start the activity
now?
Notice listener’s needs
and wants
Activity 1 cont.: Match statement with politeness
strategy
If you do the laundry, I’ll
make lunch.
Avoid argument
That’s a nice bag you have,
Prada?
Make an offer or promise
Yes, it’s rather salty, but still
edible.
Exaggerate interest in
listener and their interests
Check your answers
If you do the laundry, I’ll
make lunch.
Avoid argument
That’s a nice bag you have,
Prada?
Make an offer or promise
Yes, it’s rather salty, but still
edible.
Exaggerate interest in
listener and their interests
Other politeness strategies- Guess the strategy!
Would you know where Queen Street is?
Which word shows politeness?
Would you know where Queen Street is?
Strategy: Be indirect
Politeness - Guess the strategies!
I think, he might’ve taken it, maybe.
Could you please pass the salt?
I think, he might’ve taken it, maybe.
Could you please pass the salt?
Strategy: Use hedges (eg. modal verbs) or questions
Politeness - Guess the strategy!
You couldn’t manage to pick me up this afternoon,
could you?
You couldn’t manage to pick me up this afternoon,
could you?
Strategy: Be pessimistic!
Politeness - Guess the strategy!
It’s not too much that I need, just a couple of dollars.
It’s not too much that I need, just a couple of dollars.
Strategy: Lessen the request
Politeness - Guess the strategy!
I hope my husband’s joke won’t be taken seriously.
I hope my husband’s joke won’t be taken seriously.
Strategy: Use passive voice
Cheating will not be tolerated.
Cheating will not be tolerated.
Strategy: Use general rule
Politeness - Guess the strategy!
Excuse me for a second, I’m sorry for interrupting, but
can you tell me what time it is?
Excuse me for a second, I’m sorry for interrupting, but
can you tell me what time it is?
Strategy: Apologise
Role play practice - in pairs
 Ask to borrow something
 Ask a favour
 Ask for an assignment extension
 Ask for an appointment
 Ask someone to turn the music down
 Interrupt someone who is working or busy
 Ask to borrow some money
 Ask for directions
Politeness
email/netiquette
How can you show politeness on the net?
Politeness
email/netiquette
 Communicate clearly, briefly and in an organised
way
 Start formally first, eg. Dr. Smith, Professor Smith
 Reply to emails as soon as possible
 Don’t shout (ie don’t use capitals)
 Avoid offensive language
 Closing eg. Kind regards, Regards, Cheers
 Sign with name
 RSVP means?
Useful Websites
http://www2.nkfust.edu.tw/~emchen/Pron/stress.htm
#rules
http://www.pronuncian.com/Podcast/Default.aspx?Epi
sode=126
http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/course/chapter4/4vow
els.html
http://www.strategiesinlanguagelearning.com/stressin-english/