- •Different approaches to the problem of phoneme. The definition of phoneme
- •The notions of phoneme and allophone. Functions of phoneme (7)
- •The definition of intonation. Componentes of intonation. Structural and functional approaches to the problem of its components (28)
- •Sentence accentuation
- •The difference between rp and ga in the system of vowels and consonants (4)
- •Phonological and non-phonological features in the system of english consonants (10)
- •Presence or absence of voice:
- •Position of the soft palate and the velum:
- •10. Практическая часть
- •Territorial and social differences in the pronunciation of english in different countries (1)
- •The notion of interference. Prerequisites for phonetic interference (segmental level) (12)
- •Phonetic basis. Articulatory basis: static and dynamic approaches
- •Intonational (prosodic) basis.
- •Principal and subsidiary variants of english phonemes
- •Principle;
- •Subsidiary.
- •The definition of prosody. Functions of prosody (29)
- •Structural function
- •Social function
- •Aesthetic
- •Stylistic
- •Phonological and non-phonological features in the system of english vowels (11)
- •Stability of articulation:
- •11. Практическая часть
- •The difference between rp and ga in the pronunctiation (word-stress, prosody (5)
- •Social variations in english pronunciation. Social factors and phonetic markers
- •Functions of intonation
- •The orphoepic norm of english (rp) and its types
- •Southern English Pronunciation, or rp;
- •Northern English Pronunciation;
- •Standard Scottish Pronunciation.
- •Intonation and prosody. The correlation between these notions
The definition of prosody. Functions of prosody (29)
By prosody the majority of linguists mean constant physical or acoustic characteristics of speech (spectrum) and absence of speech signal. P. is something that organizes our speech.
Prosody is “a term used in suprasegmental phonetics and phonology to refer collectively to variations in pitch, loudness, tempo and rhythm”. (Crystal). Recently voice quality has been added to the list of prosodic features.
Functions
Structural function
The speaker has to organize and the listener has to identify the hierarchy of information units starting from the most prominent syllable in a word, the most prominent word in an intonation group, the varying prominence and the cohesion of intonation groups in longer utterances, such as speech paragraphs or the whole text. Pitch, length and loudness help to restore the key concepts of the situation posited in speech act, to get the structural vision of the speech act.
In a dialogue or polilogue the speaker – listener interaction is reflected in the unity of one topic for discussion shared by all the participants, with key words brought out by prosodic means, followed by special boundary tones, pitch range and tempo variation to signal transition to a new topic.
Information structuring is more evident in radio newsreading, sports commentary (changes in prosody reflect the progress of the action).
It is subdivided into:
constitutive function. It presupposes the integrative function on the one hand when intonation arranges intonation groups into bigger syntactic units: sentences, texts. If it were not for this function, we would hear separate words at the same pitch.
intergrative.
delimitative. It manifests itself when intonation divides texts, syntactic wholes and sentence units that is intonation groups.
ex. He washed and brushed his \hair.
He washed and brushed his \hair.
Social function
Our oral speech can give info to the listener about his gender, age, education, place – domain of prosody. Prosody is an important marker of personal or social identity: lawyers, preachers, newscasters, army sergeants are readily identified through their distinctive prosody. For example: I higher and wider pitch range accompanied by slower tempo with perfect timing is a sign of dominance, while a faster tempo and a narrow pitch range is a feature of submissiveness. It is also customary to demonstrate deference to higher rank and older age by varying one’s tempo and loudness, using specific, culturally accepted pitch patterns. Among the conventional formulae (‘Ladies and gentlemen…’) there are prosodic patterns of greetings, leave talks, thanks, apologies, etc. (Thanks, Dad. Morning. Give me a minute. No problem.) which all suit the common pattern fall + rise or fall + level, the obvious connotations being to keep contact with the listener.
Aesthetic
It means general impression from the person’s speech (harmony (благозвучие) or not).