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- Title
The Invisible Y: A Case for Spelling in Pronunciation Learning.
- Authors
Dickerson, Wayne B.
- Abstract
The article focuses on the problems faced by students in pronunciation and offers solutions. The maximum number of problems occur in the pronunciation of /y/. This happens when the learner makes an effort to pronounce words known by sight. In the pronunciation of /y/, spelling is an inappropriate guide. This happens since the obligatory /y/ is not written in standard English orthography. Hence it has been termed as the Invisible Y. The Invisible Y is used prior to a set of vowel spellings. It is sometimes heard before an unstressed vowel. Learners require simple rules for predicting the sounds of new words. The rules need to be applicable to standard English spelling. They have to be made on the supposition that the learner prior to pronouncing an English word is not familiar with its sound. Since adults are frequently coming across new vocabulary in written form, they have to predict /y/. Following the rules can help learners improve their speech without any external help.
- Subjects
ENGLISH language pronunciation; ORTHOGRAPHY &; spelling; ENGLISH language usage; ENGLISH language alphabet; PHONETICS; VOCABULARY; ALPHABETIC principle (Reading); CONSONANTS; VOWELS
- Publication
TESOL Quarterly, 1985, Vol 19, Issue 2, p303
- ISSN
0039-8322
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/3586831