In simple words, Phonetics is a symbol of a sound when you say it
In my speaking classes, I like to spend time getting students familiar with the IPA, the International Phonetic Alphabet (see the video on this page for an introduction).
It is important to know that although the English alphabet has 26 letters – 5 vowels and 21 consonants.
We have about 44 different sounds that we make when we speak English. Of these different sounds, 20, or almost half are vowel sounds. The IPA will help explain the fact that English is not pronounced like it is spelled.
Examples Of Phonics Sounds
To take just one example from thousands, the word ‘iron.’
First, this word begins with an ‘i,’ but there are many ways to pronounce this letter – which one should it be?
Second, is spelt with an ‘r,’ but this is pronounced like a ‘y’ in ‘yes.’
Next, we have ‘o’ which is not pronounced like ‘o’ in ‘hot,’ but rather as what is called a ‘schwa,’ a tiny escape of sound that can be represented by ‘a,’ ‘e,’ ‘i,’ ‘o,’ or ‘u.’
The final letter ‘n’ is the only letter in the word that makes a predictable sound that we would have no trouble guessing. Another example to consider when we look at spelling matching pronunciation is, ‘banana.’ In this word, the letter ‘a’ appears three times, but each time, it is pronounced differently.
What are the strong and weak forms in the English language with samples?
An understanding of the IPA will not only help you discover any sounds you are having difficulty with. But will also help you with pronouncing any new English word with confidence. Many good dictionaries also use the IPA to show how to pronounce words.
As we learn English online, some other features of spoken English that are important are word and sentence stress and strong and weak forms of many English words.
Sample of Pronouncing Strong and weak form
Did you know that if I asked a simple question like, Can you swim? And you answered, Yes, I can, although we have both used the same word, ‘can,’ we have pronounced it differently.
It was not a mistake, but the first “can” is a weak pronunciation, because it is not carrying important information, while the “can” in the answer (Yes, I can) is pronounced with a strong form (because it is carrying important information.
The IPA is helpful to show the difference: the weak form of “can” is written with IPA symbols as /kən/ and the strong form as /kæn/.
Another sample in question, What do you do? We have the same word ‘do,’ first used as an auxiliary or helping verb and second as the main verb.
When we ask the question “What do you do?”. The first ‘do’ is pronounced in its weak form and the second in its strong form. And the same reason, the weak form is not carrying important information but is only performing grammatical duties. While the main verb (spoken in its strong form) is the form carrying the important information.
In the IPA, these two words would be represented as /də/ and /du:/. The important is this affects our listening.
Why do native speakers speak so fast?
Many students tell me that listening is for them, the hardest of the skills to master. When they read, there are no strong or weak forms or word or sentence stress to confuse and there are nice white spaces between each word.
Often when we speak, for the sake of fluency and keeping the words rolling out. We will link a lot of words, without even realising we are doing this.
For example, On Monday morning, a native speaker asking “/dʒævəgʊdwi: gen/?” a non-native speaker may hear, /dʒævəgʊdwi: gen/? But have no idea that the person is asking them, “Did you have a good weekend?”
The first four words sound like ‘java,’ or in the IPA, /dʒævə/. It would be certain though that if the native speaker wrote down their question, the English student would understand it immediately.
Take Aways
This is just a small sample and there is so much more to learn. I would like to invite you to Join my English-speaking course online one to one and we can spend more time exploring these and other important aspects of spoken English in the way most meaningful for you, with lots of conversation practice to improve your English Speaking with confidence. Call us to book a free assessment.