Voice Quality Settings and the Teaching of Pronunciation

Abstract

Voice quality settings can be used to characterize ESL students' accents and to help non-native speakers of English improve their pronunciation. The concept of voice quality settings is discussed, drawing from the descriptive phonetic methodology of Abercrombie, Laver, Honikman, and Esling. A broad model of the voice quality setting of one variety of English spoken in North America is described, and settings in other languages are identified. Finally, suggestions for making students aware of their own settings are presented.