Intonation

The way the level of a speaker’s voice changes, to show meaning such as how they feel about something, e.g. if they

are angry or pleased or to make speech sound polite in English. Intonation can be rising or falling or both.

Linking

The way different sounds can link into each other in connected speech, e.g. it ’s a good day – / itsegudei/.

Main stress: see stress.

Minimal pair

Two words which are different from each other by only one meaningful sound, e.g. hit / hit / ; heat / hi:t /.

Phoneme

The smallest sound unit which can make a difference to meaning e.g. /p/ in pan, /b/ in ban. Phonemes have their own

symbols (phonemic symbols), each of which represents one sound. Words can be presented in phonemic script

(usually International Phonetic Alphabet or IPA), e.g. / dokte / – doctor. Phonemic transcription is used in dictionaries

to show pronunciation.

Primary stress: see stress.

Rhyme

1. Words that sound similar because they have the same ending, e.g. hat, cat.

2. A song or poem with words that sound the same at the end of each line

I believe I can fly.

I believe I can touch the sky.

Rhythm

The rhythm of speech is the way that some words in a sentence are emphasised or stressed to produce a regular

pattern, e.g. If I were YOU, I’d GO by BUS.

Secondary stress: see stress.

Schwa

The / W / sound is called the schwa. It is a feature of weak forms, e.g. / ken / in I can play tennis.

Sentence stress: see stress.

Stress

Primary, main stress

The main stress on a word, e.g. DIFFicult, indiVIDual. The primary stress on a word is marked in the

dictionary as follows 'difficult.

Secondary stress

Stress on a syllable or word in a sentence that is less strong than the primary (main) stress, e.g.

/»kentrevesel which has the primary or main stress on / ve / and the secondary stress on / kon /.

Sentence stress refers to the way some words in a sentence are stressed. In English these are usually the information-carrying words. In the sentence It was a lovely evening, and the temperature was perfect, the main stress, when spoken, is probably on the word perfect. Stress can therefore be used to show meaning, to emphasise a particular point or feeling.

Word stress is the pronunciation of a syllable with more force or emphasis than the surrounding syllables

which are said to be unstressed, e.g. umbrella / vm«brelW /.

Strong form

If a word is important, then the strong form is used, and the pronunciation changes, e.g. I can /ken/ speak a little

Spanish in an emergency. See weak form.

Syllable

A part of a word that usually contains a single vowel sound, e.g. pen = one syllable; teacher = two syllables –

teach/er; umbrella = three syllables – um/brell/a.

Unvoiced sound

To produce an unvoiced sound, no voice is used, e.g. /p/ in pad, /t/ in tomorrow. No movement or vibration can be felt

in the throat.

Voiced sound

To produce a voiced sound, the voice is used, e.g. /b/ in bad, /d/ in dentist. Movement or vibration can be felt in the

throat. Vowels in English are voiced.

Vowel

A sound in which the air is not blocked by the tongue, lips, teeth etc. Movement or vibration is felt in the throat

because the voice is used. The letters a, e, i, o, u and sometimes y are used to represent these sounds.

Weak forms

If a word is unstressed, the weak form of vowels may be used, e.g. I can (/ kWn /) speak Italian, French, English and

Spanish. The sound / W / is called schwa. See strong form.

Word boundary

Where one word ends and the next one begins, especially in connected speech.

Word stress: see stress.

FUNCTIONS

Candidates should already be familiar with common functions such as asking, telling, replying, thanking and

suggesting.

Appropriacy noun, appropriate/inappropriate adjective

Language which is suitable in a particular situation. See register.

Colloquial

Language normally used in informal conversation but not in formal speech or writing, e.g. Give Gran a ring, OK?

Decline, refuse an invitation

To say that you will not accept an invitation, e.g. I’m sorry but I can’t.

Enquire

To ask for information, e.g. What time does the train leave?

Express

To show or make known a feeling or an opinion in words.

Express ability, e.g. I can swim.

Express intention, e.g. I’m planning to visit him next year.

Express necessity, e.g. He needs to get a new passport.

Express obligation, e.g. You must wear a seatbelt.

Express permission, e.g. You can have a look at my book.

Express preference, e.g. I’d rather have coffee than tea.

Express probability, e.g. He should be in later.

Express prohibition, e.g. You mustn’t use your mobile phone while driving.

Formal language

Language used in formal conversations or writing, e.g. Yours faithfully. See register.

Formality (level of): see register.

Function

The reason or purpose for communication, e.g. making a suggestion; giving advice.

Functional exponent

A phrase which is an example of a function and shows the purpose of what the speaker is communicating, e.g. Let’s ... This phrase is one way to make a suggestion. It is an example (or exponent) of the function of suggesting. See function.

Greet

To welcome someone, often with words, e.g. Hello, how are you?