On Teaching Pronunciation as an Essential Soft Skill to Overcome Odds!

Savita V. Deogirkar Dept. of English

V.M.V. College, WardhamanNagar, Nagpur.(M.S.)

Abstract:

To pronounce is to say correctly that employs the organs of speech to produce correct sounds. And the Correct pronunciation is the key to enhance better personality and is nowadays one of the most important soft skills. To have a successful and charismatic personality, one has to have polished and correct pronunciations. It also reflects the culture in which a person is born and brought up as a result of that it is held in high esteem. Technological boom has spread its wings in all spears of our life including Education. One who aspires to persue technical education in the Global market, English is a vital medium of communication to sail successfully. To carry out one’s professional practice in global arena, communication skills are mandatory in the new millennium. English, being the lingua franca of the world, is a prerequisite to be acknowledged globally. With English, one can easily get recognized in Net world. As a matter of fact, English is that key which takes the tech-savvy from University to Industry. In the age of Globalization, English has acquired a status of a global language. But the fact remains that for engineering students, English is a second language. That must be the reason why Good Pronunciation remains sidelined even though it has always been insisted on by the language scholars and academicians. Since English is the major international language, standard pronunciation facilitates greater international intelligibility and acceptability. Language is an art and pronouncing correctly is a vital soft skill. This requires a blend of correct articulation of sounds, right accentuation, proper rhythm, correct intonation patterns and the extensive study of phonetics. With the fusion of all these elements, oral fluency can easily be achieved. The aim therefore is to use ‘appropriate’ pronunciations. But how do we decide what is correct? Present paper tries to discuss the methods of acquiring appropriate pronunciation and the hurdles therein. The fact remains that dialectical differences, regional differences particularly in India, the impact of mother tongue and individual differences do hamper the perfection in pronunciation.

Key words: Pronunciation, accentuation, phonetics, intonation, globalization, international language, soft skill, standard pronunciation, sounds.

Introduction

Communication is essentially the transfer of information and knowledge. Communication comprises three important elements, a sender, a message and a recipient. It is derived from the Latin word Communicare that means to share. And the process is called conveying information from one end to the other end through the code of symbols. These symbols are often words. To compose message mostly these symbols are used. If it is a presentation, these messages are to be pronounced correctly and accurately. The absence of correct pronunciation convey wrong message and create unwanted situations. Through which symbols the information is conveyed, guarantees the authenticity of it. Another important thing is transferring knowledge. That also requires the choice of words and its appropriate

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An International Journal in English ISSN 0976-8165

Vol. IV. Issue III June 2013

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pronunciation. The absence of English very often hampers the profile of a professional engineer that affects recruitment and retention in engineering students. In the age of Globalization, English has acquired a status of a global language. This is the sufficient reason to integrate Communication Skills across the curriculum though the fact remains that for engineering students, English is a second language. This is why Good Pronunciation remains sidelined whereas it has always been insisted on by the language scholars and academicians. In the international arena, English has acquired a status of lingua franca. With the advent of Globalization, international projects are ever increasing and outsourcing is in demand. Due to these many reasons cross-cultural communication and collaboration is boosted up. Keeping in view the importance of English, it won’t be an exaggeration to say that proficiency in English surpasses any other language. It covers almost all walks of life under the Sun including international business, diplomacy, science and even Net. Correct pronunciation is the key to enhance better personality and is nowadays one of the most important soft skills. To be a successful and charismatic personality, one has to have polished and correct pronunciations. It also reflects the culture in which a person is born and brought up as a result of that it is held in high esteem

When we talk on Oral Communication Skills, Pronunciation comes on the first and foremost position. Knowledge and technical know-how needs to be presented extra-ordinarily. Therein lays the importance of Pronunciation as an essential soft skill. The one and only gift that has been bestowed upon mankind is the ability to speak. Pronunciation is the key feature of the spoken form of English as it brings diversity in phoneme level (all phones), morphemes, syllables that contribute in variations in Pronunciation. But how/what to speak?? These two things require special attention. Some people believe that over-generalizing or over emphasizing of grammar of a language undermine the role of pronunciation and the impact of phonetic and phonological factors on language teaching/learning process. Some sociolinguists do believe that diversity in pronunciation occurs due to social and ethnic factors such as gender, race, social status, region and individual difference. Major role in inappropriate pronunciation is played by the speaker. He can shorten, lengthen, stress or alter any speech sounds at his will that gives variations in pronunciations and is the sole reasons to have pronunciations differ individually. Thus speaker can add a meaningful flavor and emotive shade to his language. Although there are two dominant models of pronunciation to be emulated in the global scenario, namely, the English R.P. and the American Pronunciation, most people in the world follow extensively English R.P. as they believe it to be the Standard English/King’s o Queen’s English or B.B.C. English. Even though it is widely accepted, with the boundaries removing American variety has entered in day to day lives of the people.

To have further discussion, we must understand that there is a system of symbols for writing the sounds of English. It is a science that focuses on production of speech sounds. This science is called Phonetics. Organizing these sounds into patterns is known as Phonology. A phoneme is a minimal unit of distinctive sound feature. The knowledge of all these details directly influences pronunciation. Some of the problems in mastering over English Pronunciations are stated as the following:-

Phonological Problem:-

There are twenty four consonant sounds in English and twenty vowel sounds which are always written in two slashes. If the set of sounds are not familiar to the speaker then the speaker’s pronunciations vary while articulating these sounds. Vowel sounds play very important role while pronouncing words particularly in stretching vowels or shortening them.

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This differentiate vowel sounds between short vowels, long vowels and the gliding of one vowel sound on another that is known as diphthongs. The distinctness of the vowel sounds confirms the syllables, stress, and intonation so on so forth. Most often the speakers do have less knowledge of the sounds that reflect that s/he is not trained in good institute and have the fear of having least employability. Mother Tongue interference is also a great threat in enhancement of Pronunciation that hampers phonological loopholes. For ESL/EFL students, their native language has been deeply ingrained in their mind that has very limited sounds registered in their mind that results in sound recognition problem that weakens his pronunciations. Some dialectical accents are also fused in speaker’s personality that affects his pronunciation. “The main problem of English pronunciation is to build a new set of boxes (in the mind) corresponding to the sounds of English, and to break down the arrangement of boxes which the habits of our native language have so strongly built up.”(J. D. O’Connor, 2008). The following are some vowel sounds.

If the vowel sounds are mispronounced, the meaning is lost forever and the meaning cannot be retrieved. The length with which the vowel sounds are pronounced can change the word itself. For e.g. Short vowel sound /^/ as in ‘up’ is a brisk utterance but /9/ in ‘ago’ is a bit stretched. This way the distinction between cot and caught is lost. In the same way consonant sounds ‘sh’ /ʃ/ and ‘zh’ /ʒ/, as in the English words fissure and vision respectively are often confusing for the speaker. And articulation of diphthongs is all the more difficult to the speakers. Ignorance towards articulation

While articulating the sounds, proper ‘lip positions’ should be taken care of. The absence of it often mars speaker’s pronunciation. Tongue plays a vital role in uttering English sounds in Spoken English. Its ‘height’ must be focused. Parts of the tongue and the front palate, middle palate and lower palate should be known it the speaker. The point of articulation (the contact of articulators on one point), the manner of articulation (the type of obstruction caused by the narrowing or closure of the articulators) are very important points in creating English Sounds.

Short Vowels

Long Vowels

Diphthongs:-

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Articulation Problem Some people have articulation problem. Some have nasal accent that of course, hampers the speaker’s fine pronunciation. Some nasal resonance is accepted and entertained though in the case of South Indian Speakers in India. Indistinct articulation is the result of restricted movement of jaws, lips, tongue that have sluggish speech muscles engaged. That is why some sounds are blurred and kill the impact of fine pronunciations. Speed of the speaker also contributes in handling pronunciation with finesse. On the basis of Voicing, sounds are divided into voiced (vibration of vocal cords) and voiceless. Ignorance in Intonation Patterns Wikipedia defines Intonation as variation of spoken pitch in Linguistics. This element shows speaker’s attitude and emotions that confirms individual’s intention in asking a question and posing a statement.“Stress and intonation are linked phenomena; they work together to give the effect of “prominence” or accent.”1 Emotional degree of the speakers affects his intonation and he is able to express a wide variety of emotions with the change in his pitch. For effective communication in English, one should know the intonation patterns that are engaged in Statements, wh-type questions, exclamations etc. English most often does not have any co-relation between spellings and sounds. There is spelling-sound disparity. Although there are 26 letters, there are 44 speech sounds in English. For example, Ice’cream and I’scream. Juncture: Juncture plays a predominant role in adding or modifying the semantic role of the word. Juncture is the transition from one segmental phoneme to another. Some Solutions to overcome these odds

• Rigorous Practice: To improve upon pronunciation, the speaker has to have everyday rigorous practice of uttering English Speech sounds that would overcome the deep-seated mother tongue speech sounds in his mind. No English teacher has magical wand that would improve students’ pronunciation in overnight. One has to practice English sounds as many times as they turn to be very natural and comfortable so as to avoid mother-tongue effect.

• Choice of Accent: Before chiseling pronunciation, the speaker has to decide which accent he has to follow to improve upon. As is known to all, in India, British R.P is commonly used than American one. In vowel sounds, both differ totally. In America very few vowel sounds are used. But in Britain many vowel sounds are used. The difference between colour and color is often cited in this regard.

• I.P.A. Learning: International Phonetic Alphabet is to be known by heart. For American English pronunciation Rachel’s English, Merriam-Webster pronunciation Dictionary Guide, are the highly recommended books. And for British Pronunciation improvement, BBC Learning English are best books. To learn appropriate pronunciations one should have Daniel Jone’s Dictionary, in his custody.

• Audio-Visual Aids: Audio visual ways are effective ways to improve pronunciations. Online dictionaries facilitate audio in pronouncing the words.

• You Tube pronunciation videos, podcasts, English songs, English movies, news promote good pronunciation practice.

• Imitation is the best remedy for enhancing one’s pronunciation. One can imitate news reader’s pronunciations. English movie actors can be imitated and practiced to polish individual pronunciations.

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An International Journal in English ISSN 0976-8165

Vol. IV. Issue III June 2013

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• Quizzes and Pronunciation books also help in cherishing one’s pronunciations. BBC Learning English also gives good practice to the speakers. Oxford Advance Learner’s guide is also helpful in this regard.

• English language laboratories keep pronunciation as major thrust area where scientifically speakers try to inculcate correct pronunciations.

Works Cited: Dr. Radhey L. Varshney. An Introductory Textbook of Linguistics and Phonetics. Students Store, Bareilly, 1995. Asher, R.E.(1994). The Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics. Vol.6: pp. 2933-34. Bansal, R. K. & J. B. Harrison (1995), Spoken English, Orient Longman Limited, Hyderabad Crystal, David.(1997). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language, 2nd Ed.,Cambridge University Press Daniel Jones, English Pronouncing Dictionary (15th Edition), Cambridge University Press, U. K. Dr. Hariharan, Seetha. “The Grammar of Spoken English” paper published in Confluence 2013. O’Connor, J. D. (2008), Better English Pronunciation, (with 2 Audio C.Ds), (Second Edition), Replika Press Pvt. Ltd, India.

www.the-criterion.comThe Criterion

An International Journal in English ISSN 0976-8165

Vol. IV. Issue III June 2013

5 Editor-In-Chief Dr. Vishwanath Bite