FROM ACCURATE SOUNDS TO NATURAL SPEECH: INTEGRATING PRONUNCIATION, STRESS, RHYTHM, AND INTONATION
Keywords:
pronunciation, stress, rhythm, intonation, natural speech, EFL, speaking skills, connected speech, fluency, communicative competence.Abstract
This article examines the importance of integrating pronunciation, stress, rhythm, and intonation in English language teaching. Accurate pronunciation of individual sounds is an important foundation of spoken English, but producing isolated sounds correctly does not always result in natural and effective communication. Learners also need to understand how word stress, sentence stress, rhythm, connected speech, and intonation contribute to the organization and meaning of spoken language. The article discusses common challenges faced by English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners and presents practical strategies for developing natural speech. Activities such as shadowing, minimal-pair practice, reading aloud, dialogue practice, role-play, songs, authentic audio materials, and technology-assisted learning can help learners connect accurate sound production with fluent communication. The article argues that pronunciation instruction should move beyond individual sounds and systematically incorporate suprasegmental features. An integrated approach can improve learners’ intelligibility, fluency, confidence, listening ability, and communicative competence.
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