英语语音期末复习材料(上).doc

Phonetics Phonetics is the science of speech sounds. It deals with the sound system of a language. A language consists of three important elements, namely, speech sound, vocabulary and grammar. Speech sound is the material form on which word and grammar rely for existence. English phonetics covers the articulation, classification and combination of the English speech sounds. It also deals with the laws of their changes, the rules of stresses and the intonation in English speech. To have good pronunciation means to pronounce correctly all the speech sounds of the language and all the combinations in their proper order not only in isolated words, but also in sentences to pronounce sentences fluently at the speed required by the situation, with correct stresses, linking of sounds, rhythm, pauses and intonation. Standard English pronunciation English is a language which is most widely used in the world. Its pronunciation varies a great deal in different geographical areas. Thus English has a number of dialects and accents, such as GA(General American),GB(General British).They have far more similarities than differences. Thus RP(Received Pronunciation)is sort of English based on the London dialect and used by educated people in southern England. It is the pronunciation used by the announcers of BBC and also widely used throughout English-speaking countries. Phonetic transcription 国际音标 One symbol represents one sound and never any other. One sound is often spelt in a number of different ways: pity busy pretty women -- [i] One letter often stands for different sounds in different words. China father bad any --a [ a: e] Many letters are mute sounds. knock doubt --[k] [b] The same spelling may have two different pronunciations according to different meanings. bow tear Words spelt in different ways may have the same pronunciation. [pi:s]- piece peace Phoneme(basic sound): phoneme is the smallest