INTELLIGIBILITY
Dependent on 'counts of sameness'
'being understood' by the listener
Sources of problems
The use of intonation
Using pitch variation to send information, like expressing intentions.
No variation in pitch → impression that the speaker is bored or uninterested.
The use of rhythm
There must be an alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables.
The use of stress
Not stressing one syllable more than another. Stressing the wrong syllable.
'written' → 'retain' 'comfortable' → 'come for a table'
Links between words
Word boundaries are negotiated by
A composite sound
'this year' → using consonant /ʃ/ between words → 'the shear'
A sound mierger
Final consonant merges with the first consonant 'nice shoe' → 'ny shoe'
Linking sounds
Inserting /w/ or /j/ to link words: 'go in' → 'go win' 'the aim...' → 'the yame'
Sound insertions
Adding sounds.
'speak' → short vowel added at the beggining → 'a-speak'
Sound deletions
Leaving out a sound.
'hold' → final consonant 'd' deleted → sounds like 'hole'
Sounds substitutions
Substituting one sound for another.
'My friend is sick' ≠ 'My friend is thick'. 'sick' and 'think' pronounced as /s/
Affecting factors
By listener
> Ability to use contextual clues when listening.
> Familiarity with the foreign accent.
By speaker
> Idiosyncratic speech habits.
> Speaking too quickly.
> Lack of confidence about pronunciation; pauses; hesitations.
