Intelligibility, Oral Communication, and the Teaching of Pronunciation

A proper understanding of intelligibility is at the heart of effective pronunciation teaching, and with it, successful teaching of speaking and listening. Far from being an optional 'add-it-on-if-we-have-time' language feature, pronunciation is essential because of its tremendous impact on speech intelligibility. Pronunciation dramatically affects the ability of language learners to make themselves understood and to understand the speech of others. But not all elements of pronunciation are equally important. Some affect intelligibility a great deal, while others do not. With a strong emphasis on classroom practice and how pronunciation teaching can be more effectively approached in different teaching contexts, this book provides an important resource for pronunciation researchers, with a distinctly practical focus. It shows how intelligibility research informs pronunciation teaching within communicative classrooms, enabling language teachers to incorporate intelligibility findings into their teaching. Professionals interested in oral communication, pronunciation, and speech perception will find the book fascinating.

Reviews & endorsements

‘A superb, timely, user-friendly contribution synthesizing knowledge and advancing practical guidelines on the burning question of the linguistic factors to target to promote intelligibility. Highly recommended for all educational practitioners concerned with enhancing learners' spoken English interactions, including as a core resource for teacher training.' Talia Isaacs, University College London

Customer reviews

Product details

• Date Published: September 2018
• format: Adobe eBook Reader
• isbn: 9781108271080

• contains: 15 b/w illus. 18 tables
• availability: This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.