TEFL Phonology and Pronunciation Teaching 2

Question 1

What is 'assimilation' in connected speech?

Accepted Answer

When a sound changes to become more like a neighboring sound

Answer

Assimilation occurs when a sound changes its characteristics to resemble an adjacent sound, such as 'ten boys' sounding like 'tem boys' due to the following bilabial /b/.

Question 2

Which suprasegmental feature refers to the rise and fall of pitch across an utterance?

Accepted Answer

Intonation

Answer

Intonation refers to the melodic patterns of pitch rise and fall across utterances, conveying meaning such as questions, statements, surprise, or sarcasm.

Question 3

What is the schwa (/ə/) in English?

Accepted Answer

The most common unstressed vowel sound

Answer

The schwa is the most common vowel sound in English, appearing in unstressed syllables (e.g., the 'a' in 'about'), and is essential for producing natural English rhythm.

Question 4

What is the key difference between segmental and suprasegmental phonological features?

Accepted Answer

Segmental features are individual sounds; suprasegmental features span across sounds and words

Answer

Segmental features refer to individual consonants and vowels, while suprasegmental features (stress, intonation, rhythm) operate across larger chunks of speech.

Question 5

What is 'word stress' in English?

Accepted Answer

The emphasis placed on one syllable within a multi-syllable word

Answer

Word stress refers to the emphasis placed on one syllable of a multi-syllable word, making it longer, louder, and higher in pitch than other syllables.

(TEFL) Teaching English as a Foreign Language Practice Test

(TEFL) Teaching English as a Foreign Language Practice Test

TEFL Phonology and Pronunciation Teaching 2