Teaching Voice Quality Setting in the Pronunciation Classroom CATESOL 2015 Anaheim California Friday, November 13 Richard Robison, Azusa Pacific University

Teaching Voice Quality SettingTeaching Voice Quality Settingin the Pronunciation Classroomin the Pronunciation Classroom

CATESOL 2015CATESOL 2015Anaheim California

Friday, November 13

Richard Robison, Azusa Pacific UniversityDreah Stratton, ELS Language Centers

Teaching Voice Quality Setting in the Pronunciation Classroom

AgendaAgenda

• Brief history of voice quality setting (VQS)• Description of North American English VQS• Issues in teaching VQS• Overview of teaching techniques• Teaching strategies in practice• Conclusion and Q&A

Voice Quality SettingGeneral Definition: Overall posture of vocal organs and general features of movement that give an individual or group a distinctive soundHistorical Impressions

All the Eastern nations press their speech and words in their throats … All the Mediterranean nations thrust their speech to the palate… All the Western nations break their

words on the teethIsidor of Seville (560-636)

The English as it were push forward the whole of their pronunciation into the front part of the mouth … The

Germans … retract their pronunciation to the back of the mouth and the bottom of the throat.

John Wallis (1616-1703)


A Brief History of Terms• Basis of articulation: the speech ready positionthe storage position of the tongue, constantly held

throughout all vowels in the system(Sievers, 1876)

the position of the tongue from which its articulatory movements start and to which it tends to return (Heffner, 1952, p. 98)

Instrumental evidence for inter-speech positionPerkell, 1969 Gick et al., 2004Benítez et al., 2014

Teaching Voice Quality Setting in the Pronunciation ClassroomA Brief History of Terms

• Articulatory setting the overall arrangement and monoeuvring of the

speech organs necessary for the facile accomplishment of natural utterance

(Honikman, 1964, p. 73)

Teaching Voice Quality Setting in the Pronunciation ClassroomA Brief History of Terms

• Voice quality setting (VQS)the long-term postures of the larynx, pharynx, tongue,

velopharyngeal system and lips, as well as long-term laryngeal configurations reflected in … diverse phonation types (Esling and Wong, 1983, p. 89)

Note: VQS has a communicative function. VQS is dialect-specific: it contributes to the distinctive

accent of a particular dialect community. VQS is idiosyncratic: a “hallmark of personality.” VQS affects accuracy.

Teaching Voice Quality Setting in the Pronunciation ClassroomVoice Quality Setting of North American English

1. Tongue: Retracted so that tongue tip rests on alveolar ridge Tapered and concave Anchored to upper molars Relaxed Tongue tip active2. Lips: Spread and relaxed Moderate movement3. Jaw: Open and relaxed Moderate movement


Additional Voice Quality Settings of NAE

4. Velum: Weak closureNasalized voice

5. PharynxRelaxed

6. Larynx: Lowered

7. Phonation:Creaky (vocal cords pressed together tightly)


Issues in Teaching Voice Quality Setting

1. Difficult to teachBut see: Kerr (2004) Mompeán González (2003) Echelberger (2013)

2. Connection to individual identity

3. Intelligibility vs. native-like accent (Jenkins, 2000)


Taxonomy of Teaching Techniques1. Intuitive impressions • Students describe what the L2 sounds like.• They imitate an L2 accent in their L1.

2. Directed noticing• Students watch video without sound.• They notice lip, tongue and jaw movement; facial

expressions; and gestures.

3. Imitation• Students lip sync video, imitating everything


Taxonomy of Teaching Techniques4. Changing focus of resonance (Kerr, 2000) Kinesthetic vibratory feedback5. Articulatory calisthenics/warm up Lips Smile Blow through slack lips to relax: “puh puh puh” Tongue Place sides of tongue lightly against molars Place tip on alveolar ridge Repeat: t, d, n, l Jaw: Close then relax Yawn to relax and lower larynx


1. Introduce VQS2. Assign VQS Journal Project3. Practice Techniques & Methods4. Final Video Submission & Comparison


1. Introduce Voice Quality Setting (VQS)

Heyer, S. True Stories: A beginning Reader, Second Edition, Pearson Education Company


1. Introduce Voice Quality Setting (VQS)Noticing the VQS Features through:

• Video comparison: Non-NAES and NAES• VQS Features worksheet, e.g.:

Examples: 1.When the speaker speaks, s/he has ____.

a. a close jaw.b. a slightly open jaw.c. an open jaw.

2.When the speaker speaks, his/her lips are mostly ____.

a. roundedb. spreadc. neutral

• Same L1 students observe each other when speaking L1

• Observe NAES speaking English


2. Assign VQS Journal Project• A short dialog from a movie clip • Record first reading during 1st week• Practicing in and outside class, record at

least once a week. • Submit final version and compare the

progress


2. Assign VQS Journal ProjectFirst reading e.g.


Linquist, R. English by the hour

1) Articulator Exercises• Lips: An exaggerated smile & kiss. • Jaw movement: stretch the tongue • Tongue: L & R (initial) position• Combination: “eeeee”,“aaahh”,“ooooo”• Repeat

3. Practice Techniques & Methods


2) Talk to Text• Smartphones• TabletsOnline Video Pronunciation websites



3) Imitation• NAEs• Movie Clips such as



4. Final Video Submission & Comparison

Teaching Voice Quality Setting in the Pronunciation Classroom Conclusion

• Since VQS is tied to individual identity, we should address it with caution.

• At the same time, VQS often interferes with intelligibility, so it needs to be addressed.

Documents

Teaching Voice Quality Setting in the Pronunciation Classroom CATESOL 2015 Anaheim California Friday, November 13 Richard Robison, Azusa Pacific University