ORALENLISHLECTURE

ORAL ENGLISH LECTURE

Emphatic Stress, Consonant Sounds & Vowel Sounds

1. EMPHATIC STRESS

Definition: Emphatic stress is the extra force or emphasis placed on a particular word in a sentence to show importance, contrast, correction, or emotion.

LAWS / RULES OF EMPHATIC STRESS

1. Stress for Contrast

Used to show difference between two ideas.

I said BLUE pen, not BLACK pen. He bought a CAR, not a BIKE.

2. Stress for Correction

Used when correcting someone.

She is my SISTER, not my cousin. We met on MONDAY, not Tuesday.

3. Stress to Show Strong Emotion

Used to express anger, surprise, excitement, etc.

I am REALLY tired! That was ABSOLUTELY amazing!

4. Stress on New Information

New or important information in a sentence receives stress.

I bought a NEW phone. She lives in LAGOS.

5. Stress to Emphasize Auxiliary Verbs (for contradiction)

I DO understand you. She DID complete the work.

6. Stress Changes Meaning

Changing stress changes meaning.

I didn’t say he stole the money. (Stress on different words changes meaning.)

2. CONSONANT SOUNDS

Definition: Consonant sounds are speech sounds produced with obstruction or blockage of airflow.

English Has 24 Consonant Sounds

Plosive Sounds

/p/ /b/ /t/ /d/ /k/ /g/

pen, bag, ten, dog, cat, go

Fricative Sounds

/f/ /v/ /θ/ /ð/ /s/ /z/ /ʃ/ /ʒ/ /h/

fan, van, think, this, sun, zoo, ship, measure, hat

Affricates

/tʃ/ /dʒ/

chair, judge

Nasal Sounds

/m/ /n/ /ŋ/

man, net, sing

Lateral Sound

/l/

light

Approximants

/r/ /w/ /j/

red, wet, yes

3. VOWEL SOUNDS

Definition: Vowel sounds are speech sounds produced without obstruction of airflow.

English Has 20 Vowel Sounds

Short Vowels (12)

/ɪ/ /e/ /æ/ /ʌ/ /ɒ/ /ʊ/ /ə/ and others

sit, bed, cat, cup, hot, put, about

Long Vowels (5)

/iː/ /ɑː/ /ɔː/ /uː/ /ɜː/

see, car, door, food, bird

Diphthongs (8)

/eɪ/ /aɪ/ /ɔɪ/ /əʊ/ /aʊ/ /ɪə/ /eə/ /ʊə/

face, time, boy, go, now, here, hair, tour

Importance of Correct Vowel Pronunciation

ship ≠ sheep full ≠ fool hat ≠ heart

4. SUMMARY

• Emphatic stress gives importance and changes meaning.
• English has 24 consonant sounds.
• English has 20 vowel sounds (short, long, diphthongs).
• Correct pronunciation improves communication.

Prepared for Oral English Students