Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction
- Tips for preparing for the TKT
- Module 1 Language and background to language learning and teaching
- Part 1 Describing language and language skills
- Unit 1 Grammar
- Unit 2 Lexis
- Unit 3 Phonology
- Unit 4 Functions
- Unit 5 Reading
- Unit 6 Writing
- Unit 7 Listening
- Unit 8 Speaking
- Part 2 Background to language learning
- Part 3 Background to language teaching
- Module 2 Lesson planning and use of resources for language teaching
- Part 1 Planning and preparing a lesson or sequence of lessons
- Part 2 Selection and use of resources
- Module 3 Managing the teaching and learning process
- Part 1 Teachers' and learners' language in the classroom
- Part 2 Classroom management
- Sample TKT answer sheet
- Exam tips for the TKT
- Answer key for Follow-up activities
- Answer key for TKT practice tasks
- Answer key for TKT practice tests
- Alphabetical list of glossary terms
- Unit-by-unit list of glossary terms
- Acknowledgements
Unit 3 - Phonology
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction
- Tips for preparing for the TKT
- Module 1 Language and background to language learning and teaching
- Part 1 Describing language and language skills
- Unit 1 Grammar
- Unit 2 Lexis
- Unit 3 Phonology
- Unit 4 Functions
- Unit 5 Reading
- Unit 6 Writing
- Unit 7 Listening
- Unit 8 Speaking
- Part 2 Background to language learning
- Part 3 Background to language teaching
- Module 2 Lesson planning and use of resources for language teaching
- Part 1 Planning and preparing a lesson or sequence of lessons
- Part 2 Selection and use of resources
- Module 3 Managing the teaching and learning process
- Part 1 Teachers' and learners' language in the classroom
- Part 2 Classroom management
- Sample TKT answer sheet
- Exam tips for the TKT
- Answer key for Follow-up activities
- Answer key for TKT practice tasks
- Answer key for TKT practice tests
- Alphabetical list of glossary terms
- Unit-by-unit list of glossary terms
- Acknowledgements
Summary
What is phonology?
Phonology is the study of the sound features used in a language to communicate meaning. In English these features include phonemes, word stress, sentence stress and intonation.
Key concepts
Do you know what these symbols represent?
/dƷ/ /æ/ /ð/ /ɪ/
All these symbols represent phonemes. A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound that can make a difference to meaning in a language. For example, the s in books in English shows that something is plural, so the sound /s/ has meaning and is a phoneme. Different languages use a different range of sounds and not all of them have meaning in other languages. For example, the distinction between /s/ and /sh/ is an important one in English, where it helps distinguish (notice or understand the difference between two things) between words such as so and show, sock and shock, sore and shore, etc. But in Cantonese, you can use either the /s/ or /sh/ sound in words without changing their meaning, i.e. in Cantonese these sounds are not two separate phonemes.
The phonemes of a language are represented in writing by phonemic symbols, such as /i:/, /aı/ and /§/. Each phonemic symbol represents only one phoneme, unlike the letters of the alphabet in English where, for example, the letter a in written English can represent the /æ/ sound in hat, the /eı/ sound in made and the /ə/ sound in usually.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The TKT Course Modules 1, 2 and 3 , pp. 21 - 26Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011