Adobe Systems
Kateřina Tomková
Prosody, Philosophy, Mentality and Psychology:
American vs. British Suprasegmentals
                       14 February 2020

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Inspiration
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Tomková: GenAm vs. GB suprasegmentals
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•GenAm devotion to vowels;
•vowels more open, nasal setting
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•RP (GB) devotion to consonants

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjjQqXuBLnQ/TimkRiGWGUI/AAAAAAAAAMw/ZDjHBt452lI/s1600/Phonetic+Chart.jpg



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Difference in suprasegmentals # 2
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•voice carries more
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•voice carries less
 Tomková: GenAm vs. GB suprasegmentals
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Difference in suprasegmentals # 3
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•tempo slower, louder in vol.
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•tempo faster, quieter in volume
 Tomková: GenAm vs. GB suprasegmentals
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Difference in suprasegmentals # 4
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•volume decreases during utterrance
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•volume increases during utterrance
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Difference in suprasegmentals # 5
•more items stressed
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•fewer items stressed
 Tomková: GenAm vs. GB suprasegmentals
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Difference in suprasegmentals # 6
•narrower pitch range
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•wider pitch range
 Tomková: GenAm vs. GB suprasegmentals
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Difference in suprasegmentals # 7
•volume used for emphasis
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•pitch used for emphasis
 Tomková: GenAm vs. GB suprasegmentals
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Research Questions
 Tomková: GenAm vs. GB suprasegmentals
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Research Questions
•3 How do non-native speakers enter in the game? Do they automatically transfer the prosodic habits
of their own mother tongues into speaking English?
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•4 What are the teaching implications?
•4b What are the implications of teaching oneself and others
corresponding/correct/appropriate/authentic suprasegmentals?
•4c More generally, what are the ultimate goals of teaching pronunciation to non-native speakers?
 Tomková: GenAm vs. GB suprasegmentals
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Research Questions
•5 If this conference seeks to break boundaries, what kind of interdisciplinary study would have to
be carried out involving phoneticians, sociolinguists, psycholinguists and psychologists to have
all these questions answered?
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•6 Any other… ?
 Tomková: GenAm vs. GB suprasegmentals
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ANSWERS ?
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•NONE.
•Any comments, suggestions?
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Thank you for your kind attention, comments and remarks.

                   Enjoy the rest of this
                      conference, have a happy
                      Valentine‘s and a safe
                    journey home!
 Tomková: GenAm vs. GB suprasegmentals
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