4.3 Pronunciation and intonation

• Why is understanding German phonetics crucial for language learners?

  Good pronunciation and intonation
• German has umlauts such as 'ä', 'ö', and 'ü' with distinct vowel pronunciations.
• German has unique consonant sounds like the 'ch' in 'ich' and 'ach', which are not found in English.
• German vowel sounds include umlauts, while English includes a wider range of diphthongs.
• German has affricates and plosives that are pronounced the same as in English.

  False
• German has both long and short vowel sounds.


  True
• Match the phonetic feature with its description:

  Vowel Sounds ↔️ Larger inventory in German

  Consonant Sounds ↔️ Unique sounds like 'ch'

  Stress and Intonation ↔️ First syllable stress in German
• German has umlauts such as ä, ö, and ü, and distinct long and short vowel sounds
• Steps to develop sentence stress in German:

  1️⃣ Focus on stressing nouns, verbs, and key adjectives

  2️⃣ Use intonation to add emphasis to important words

  3️⃣ Practice with simple sentences to feel the rhythm
• In German, intonation is used to add emphasis to important words.

  True
• German sentences typically end with rising intonation.


  True
• Match the common pronunciation mistake with its correction:

  Pronouncing 'u' and 'ü' the same ↔️ Practice differentiating umlauts like 'ü'

  Struggling with 'ch' and 'r' sounds ↔️ Focus on unique German consonant sounds

  Placing stress on the wrong syllable ↔️ Pay attention to German word stress patterns
• What is the typical stress pattern in German words?

  First syllable
• What is the German equivalent of the English 'th' sound?

  No equivalent
• Which English consonant sound does German replace with affricates and plosives?

  'th'
• German has umlauts such as ä, ö, and ü
• In German, the stress typically falls on the first syllable of a word.
• German stress is usually on the first syllable of content words.
• Which consonant sound exists in English but not in German?

  The 'th' sound
• In German, word stress typically falls on the first syllable
• In German, content words include nouns, verbs, and adjectives
• Steps to master German intonation patterns:

  1️⃣ Learn that German sentences typically have rising intonation at the end

  2️⃣ Emphasize words using stress and pitch

  3️⃣ Practice with example sentences to feel the rhythm
• English sentences always have falling intonation at the end.

  False
• Steps to identify and correct pronunciation mistakes in German:

  1️⃣ Listen carefully to native speakers

  2️⃣ Practice unique German sounds and intonation

  3️⃣ Record yourself and compare

  4️⃣ Ask for feedback from a tutor or partner
• German has separate vowel sounds for 'u' and 'ü', whereas English only has one 'u' sound.
• English has the 'th' sound, which is not found in German.


  True
• English has a wider range of diphthongs compared to German.


  True
• German umlauts are examples of distinct vowel pronunciations.


  True
• Why is it crucial to practice unique German sounds?

  To improve pronunciation and fluency
• What type of vowel sounds does German have that English lacks?

  Umlauts
• What is unique about German intonation patterns compared to English?

  They differ
• German has separate sounds for 'u' and 'ü', while English has only one 'u' sound.


  True
• German plosives like b, d, and g are pronounced the same as in English.

  False
• German stress placement is consistent and always falls on the first syllable of content words.


  True
• German emphasis is achieved through stress and word order
• In German, word emphasis is achieved through stress and pitch
• German learners often place stress on the wrong syllable