On the Use of Phonograph Records in the Teaching of German Pronunciation

Abstract

THOSE Of you who heard the talk that I gave a little over a year ago on the teaching of German pronunciation may remember that I pointed out some general differences in the articulation and pronunciation of German and English. These differences had been noted by my students in my reading of English and German. I want to repeat them here for they form a necessary background for what I shall say today: 1. The basis of articulation is much farther to the front of the mouth in German than in English. 2. German vowels and diphthongs are shorter than corresponding English vowels and diphthongs. 3. German consonants are spoken with a great deal more breath, are cut off more abruptly (for the most part), and are more explosively propelled or expelled. 4. Initial vowels in German are more explosively expelled. 5. There is more effort to German speech than to English speech, mehr Kraftaufwand, more energy. 6. Accented syllables and words in German carry greater and more frequent stresses than accented syllables and words in English. 7. The greater dynamic stress of 5 and 6 results both in a general raising of the average pitch of the voice and in greater intervals of tone between accented words and other accented words, and between accented words and unaccented words.