Pronunciation

Pronunciation is the way in which a word or a language is spoken. This may refer to generally agreed-upon sequences of sounds used in speaking a given word or language in a specific dialect ("correct pronunciation") or simply the way a particular individual speaks a word or language.

A word can be spoken in different ways by various individuals or groups, depending on many factors, such as the time period, the area in which they grew up, the area in which they now live, if they have a speech or voice disorder, their ethnic group, their social class, or their education.

Linguistic terminology

In linguistics, pronunciation is studied from two perspectives. Phonetics studies physical sounds: It is concerned with the physical properties of sounds, or signs, their physiological production, acoustic properties, auditory perception, and neurophysiological status. Phonology is the study of sounds: It is concerned with the way sounds function in particular languages, or languages generally.

Influences on pronunciation

Pronunciation is influenced by a variety of factors, including social factors, such as the speaker's socio-economic status, native language, age, gender, level of education, and geographic origin, and non-social factors, such as the speed of speech and context.

Pronunciation standards and conventions

Pronunciation standards and conventions in English vary among countries. For instance, English pronunciation in the United States differs significantly from that in the United Kingdom, due to different historical influences, as well as contemporary cultural and educational factors.

See also

• Phonetics
• Phonology
• Speech
• Language
• Dialect
• Accent (sociolinguistics)

References

Pronunciation Resources
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