Book contents
- Linguistic Foundations for Second Language Teaching and Learning
- Linguistic Foundations for Second Language Teaching and Learning
- Copyright page
- Dedications
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: Setting the Stage
- 1 Where Are We Now? The Status of Linguistics in US Master’s-Level L2 Teacher Training Programs
- 2 The Strengths of Functional-Typological Linguistics in L2 Perspective
- 3 Form Follows Function: Systemic Functional Linguistics for L2 Teaching and Learning
- 4 Incorporating Formal Language Analysis in the Language Teacher Curriculum
- 5 Linguistic Foundations for L2 Pronunciation Teaching
- 6 Why Morphosyntax Matters to Second Language Teaching and Learning
- 7 Discourse and Pragmatics: An L2 Affair to Remember
- 8 Why Conversation Analysis Matters to L2 Teaching and Learning
- 9 Sociolinguistics and Second Language Teaching and Learning
- 10 Why Corpus Linguistics Matters to L2 Teaching and Learning
- 11 The Critical Role of Linguistics in Teacher Preparation
- 12 Why Linguistics Matters to Second Language Teaching in K-12
- 13 Why Teach Linguistics to L2 Learners? Evidence from the Western Washington University Spanish Language Program
- 14 Why Second Language Acquisition Should Be a Part of Linguistics Education
- Conclusion: Where Do We Go from Here?
- Index
- References
5 - Linguistic Foundations for L2 Pronunciation Teaching
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 February 2026
Book contents
- Linguistic Foundations for Second Language Teaching and Learning
- Linguistic Foundations for Second Language Teaching and Learning
- Copyright page
- Dedications
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: Setting the Stage
- 1 Where Are We Now? The Status of Linguistics in US Master’s-Level L2 Teacher Training Programs
- 2 The Strengths of Functional-Typological Linguistics in L2 Perspective
- 3 Form Follows Function: Systemic Functional Linguistics for L2 Teaching and Learning
- 4 Incorporating Formal Language Analysis in the Language Teacher Curriculum
- 5 Linguistic Foundations for L2 Pronunciation Teaching
- 6 Why Morphosyntax Matters to Second Language Teaching and Learning
- 7 Discourse and Pragmatics: An L2 Affair to Remember
- 8 Why Conversation Analysis Matters to L2 Teaching and Learning
- 9 Sociolinguistics and Second Language Teaching and Learning
- 10 Why Corpus Linguistics Matters to L2 Teaching and Learning
- 11 The Critical Role of Linguistics in Teacher Preparation
- 12 Why Linguistics Matters to Second Language Teaching in K-12
- 13 Why Teach Linguistics to L2 Learners? Evidence from the Western Washington University Spanish Language Program
- 14 Why Second Language Acquisition Should Be a Part of Linguistics Education
- Conclusion: Where Do We Go from Here?
- Index
- References
Summary
Pronunciation issues in L2 arise from a variety of linguistic sources and can be quite complex, interrelated, and subtle. Differences in sound inventories, phonemic relationships among sounds, phonotactic patterns in syllables and words, and prosodic patterns can all wreak havoc on one’s best efforts at acquiring native-like pronunciation, sometimes in tandem. Drawn from the experience of a field linguist who has taught many to articulate sounds in unfamiliar languages (L2 students learning English pronunciation and English speakers learning sounds from the world’s languages) and to analyze phonological patterns, this chapter showcases the strengths of phonetics, phonology, and typology for exceptional L2 pronunciation teaching. Goals, topics, and resources for a linguistically well-grounded teacher training course in L2 pronunciation are proposed. Properly equipped, the teacher of pronunciation can quickly analyze the linguistic source of pronunciation issues as they arise in class, determine linguistically based strategies in response, and provide clear explanations and effective, individualized coaching on-the-ground with actual L2 learners, with results they see and appreciate.
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- Linguistic Foundations for Second Language Teaching and LearningBridging the Disciplinary Divide, pp. 94 - 118Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
References
Recommended Readings
Excellent resource for phoneme inventories and other relevant information for a wide range of languages which tend to be taught, and that students tend to come with as first languages. Over fifty of the world’s major languages and language families are represented. [L2/L1 information]
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Drawing on a large cross-linguistic survey of language structures based on 100- and 200-language samples, this volume offers short, accessible articles on each property, including phonological features. [typology]
A short, four-page read on the sounds of language, as found across languages.
Entry-level text for preparing students for hands-on field phonetics in any language in the world, teaching how to pronounce and transcribe virtually all the known sounds in the world’s languages. [phonetics]
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