Four Fundamental Properties of Spoken Language

The four fundamental properties of spoken language, this is one of the most important topics in TESOL course of American TESOL Institute. I thought today I should share it.

Spoken language has four fundamental properties: Phonological system, Phonotactics rules, tone melodies, and stress system.

The phonological system the smallest possible units of sound that can convey meaning, and in most languages, there are only thirty or forty out of hundreds of possibilities. The phonological system is the phonemes that are used in the specific language.

 Phonotactic  are the fundamental rules that govern the sound sequence in the language that makes up syllables. Phonotactic rules deal with sound arrangements allowed to make up syllables.

Tone melodies are the varying tone within a spoken language that indicates lexical or discourse meanings. Tone melodies deal with changes in pitch and how they affect meaning.

The stress system is the system that governs the languages process of stress within spoken language.

Each of four properties is important to understand when teaching a foreign language. These rules include whether syllables can end with consonants or vowels.

Shared by: Aayesha Qureshi