Speaking English in a „native-like“ way does not only consist of the abilities of speaking fluently and gramatically correct. Pronounciation and the proper use of the right sounds at the right time play an important role just as well.
This paper outlines the English and German sound system, alludes to the differences between the systems and points at possible resulting problems for the German English learner.
Before comparing English to other languages it has to be advised that English occurs in many global and local variations. Similar to the German „Hochdeutsch“, two main standards had been established: „Received Pronounciation“ (RP) of todays’s British English and „General American“ (GA). Since the chose literature basically deals with the latter, this paper is limited to „General American“.
To supply an introduction and a basis for the subsequent chapter a short overview of general sound production and the taxonomy of characterizing sounds is provided.
Following this taxonomy Englih consonantes are firstly described and thereafter opposed to their German counterparts.
Based on the determined differnces, possible phonemic and phonetic difficulties for the English learner are shown and adequate tasks to overcome those obstacles are introduced.
Analogue to the previous, the presentation of the vowel systems, their differences and resulting problems completes the paper.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. General production of speech sounds
3. The consonant
3.1 English consonants
3.2 German consonants – contrastive analysis
3.3 Difficulties for the foreign language learner
3.3.1 Phonemic difficulties
3.3.2 Phonetic difficulties
4. The vowel
4.1 Vowels
4.2 English vowels
4.3 German vowels
4.4 Vowel contrasts
4.5 Difficulties for the foreign learner
5. Summary
Objectives and Topics
This paper explores the contrastive linguistic differences between the English and German sound systems to identify potential pronunciation challenges faced by German learners of English, ultimately aiming to support more effective teaching strategies in the classroom.
- Contrastive analysis of English and German phonetic systems
- Taxonomy and production of speech sounds
- Phonemic vs. phonetic difficulties for German learners
- Vowel and consonant differentiation strategies
- Pedagogical application in language education
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 German consonants – contrastive analysis
In general German and English consonant systems are very similar. The most remarkable differences are the German fricatives [C] as in „Licht“, [x] as in „lacht“ und [“ ] as in „Rose“, which do not exist in the English language.
The aspiration of the English plosives [p,t,k] could be stronger than their German equivalents.
The role of German sounds [tS] and [dZ] as affricates is controversial. But in German further affricates such as pf], [ps] exist as well as typical German consonant clusters [pfl], [tsv], [Str], [Spr]. [ts] exists in both languages and is realized by a self-contained grapheme
In German the fricative [S] is expressed by the grapheme
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the motivation for native-like pronunciation and outlines the scope of the study, focusing on General American English.
2. General production of speech sounds: Explains the universal physical process of speech sound production and differentiates between phonemic and phonetic attributes.
3. The consonant: Details the classification of English consonants and provides a contrastive analysis with German, addressing specific learner difficulties.
4. The vowel: Examines the quality and quantity of English vowels, compares them to German counterparts, and suggests exercises to overcome articulation obstacles.
5. Summary: Recaps the core differences identified and evaluates the practical implementation of pronunciation tasks within the context of German school curricula.
Keywords
Contrastive Analysis, English-German, Phonetics, Phonology, Speech Production, Consonants, Vowels, Second Language Learning, Pronunciation, Articulation, Phonemic Difficulties, General American, Diphthongs, Language Pedagogy, Articulators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The paper provides a contrastive linguistic analysis of the English and German sound systems to help identify pronunciation challenges for German speakers learning English.
Which specific variety of English is investigated in this paper?
The author limits the analysis to "General American" (GA) as the primary standard.
What is the main goal of the research?
The goal is to map out sound system differences and offer teaching strategies or tasks to help learners overcome specific phonemic and phonetic hurdles.
Which scientific methodology does the author apply?
The author uses a contrastive analysis approach, comparing the articulation, production, and categorization of sounds between two distinct language systems.
What is covered in the main section of the book?
The main section covers the production of speech sounds, detailed breakdowns of consonants and vowels in both languages, and practical exercises for learners.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include Contrastive Analysis, Phonetics, Second Language Learning, Articulation, and Phonemic Difficulties.
How does the author distinguish between phonemic and phonetic difficulties?
Phonemic difficulties involve the use of incorrect phonemes that change word meaning, whereas phonetic difficulties involve subtle articulation errors that create a foreign accent without necessarily altering meaning.
What is the significance of the "Schwa" vowel mentioned in the text?
The "Schwa" is a short, central vowel that serves as a benchmark for comparing production differences, specifically between English and German vowel systems.
How does the author interpret the curriculum requirements for English in NRW schools?
The author notes that native-like perfection is not explicitly required; rather, the goal is for students to be understood despite a noticeable accent.
- Quote paper
- Catharina Belinghausen (Author), 2008, Contrastive Analysis: English-German, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/136427
