This document provides an introduction to phonology, which is the study of sound systems in languages. It discusses key concepts like phonemes, allophones, and phonetic elements. The document outlines categories of phonology like vowels and consonants. It describes features of speech like stress, intonation, and rhythm. The document also discusses the importance of phonology for language learning, noting how sounds are linked and how pronunciation impacts spelling. It provides examples of classroom activities to teach pronunciation. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of teachers having strong phonological knowledge to teach students.

1. Phonology
Teaching
Language Arts
Prepared by: Gureysha Hassan

2. Introduction
• Definition of the topic phonology with
examples
• Expanded details of the topic – phonology
with examples
• The topic in relation to the impacts in a
language learning classroom
• Conclusion with reference.

3. Phonological map of human
brain

4. Introduction of phonology
• Phonology is the study of the sound systems of
languages.
• Phonology is the study of the way sounds
functions in languages.
• Phonology is the patterns of sounds
• Phonology tells us how various sounds form
patterns to create phonemes and their
allophones.

5. The term refers to the patterns
of phonetic elements such as….
• Phone-- is the minimal unit of speech
• Phoneme– is the smallest
• Allophone– is a variant of a phoneme.

6. Phonology
The sound system involves:
 the actual pronunciation of words which can be broken
up into the smallest units of pronunciation, known as
a segment or a phoneme.
 Eg: The words pat, chat and fat.
Change of a phoneme in a word creates a different
word ( Eg. . /kæp tæp læp/).
Errors in pronunciation can be either allophonic or
phonological for eg. Pat is heard as bat by the
listener.

7. Categories of phonology
• Sounds and phonemes
• Vowels and consonants
• Hearing
• Physical demonstration
• Discrimination eg. Ship /sheep
orfeet, seat

8. Features of speech
• Stress
•Intonation
•Rhythm
•Tone
•Pitch
•Syllable structure

9. Importance
• The way in which foreign languages links
phonemes together, physically carries out
sequences of sounds in stressed and
unstressed position in speech,
• shapes words and build up word
combination and gives them rhythm in
sentence and longer stretches.
(Lehtonenetal 1977 9-10)

10. Impacts of phonology in a language
learning classroom
• Incorrectly articulated consonants will affect the
production of vowels, as vowels will affect
consonants
• Some words are spelled differently and
pronounced the same eg. I and eye
• In addition some vowels are spelled the same
way they are written but are pronounced
differently eg. Blood/spoon

11. • This is one of the most problematic
problems for young learners face in the
classrooms

12. Some activities
• To teach or practice the differences between
spelling and pronunciation can be taught:
• Using rhyming words
• Cards
• Fill in the blanks
• Finding silent letters
• Minimal pair eg. Cab/cap, rot/lot…

13. Conclusion
• In conclusion I would say that we (as teachers)
should have a good knowledge of understanding
on how to articulate ( English sounds) correctly
in order to teach our students
• Need to be a good listener
• Knowledge of phonology effect and major
allophones.
• Pronunciation of both mother tongue and
the target language

14. References
• Slide share
• Ashby, p (1995) speech sounds London
Routlodge
• Bradford, B Intonation in context
Cambridge– Cambridge University
• www. Academia.edu

15. Fun Facts About Phonology
• By first grade most children understand
about 10,000 words. (Anglin, 1993,as cited in
Siegler, & Akibali, 2005).
• By fifth grade children understand about
40,000 words. ( Anglin, 1993, as cited in Siegler, & Alibali,
2005).