Welcome!

I like the simplicity and memorability of the equations. Exactly what
'minus 1' and 'minus 2' are needs elaboration, of course, and the
elaboration will presumably take different forms for different learners
- adding syllables is a good example.
Jonathan

japaneasynow pisze:
>
> Hello Pron SIG'sters, i am a new member, and a 5-year vet of teaching
> in Japan. In case you dont know, they routinely add syllables and
> change the pronunciation of most of their 'loan words', thereby making
> comprehensibility challenging... So, i created this very simple
> equation to help draw attention to the fact that communication is
> about both pronunciation & segmentals on the one hand & intonation &
> prosody on the other, but i couldnt use technical terms. So, i
> simplified it.
>
> I tell my students this:
>
> C=S+R
> Communication = Sound + Rhythm
>
> But what i mean is this:
> Comprehensibility = Segmentals + Prosody
>
> Now, there is a catch, called the 'Minus One Factor':
>
> C=(S-1)+R is still comprehensible
> and
> C=S+(R-1) is still comprehensible
> and even
> C=(S-1)+(R-1) can still be comprehensible, if context is clear.
>
> What this means is that -1 is some slight change from standard
> pronunciation, although there is clearly no world standard.
>
> The 'Minus One Factor' account for all comprehensible accents.
>
> But, of course, there is another catch: the "Minus Two Factor":
>
> C=(S-2)+R is false.
> C=S+(R-2) is false.
> C=(S-2)+R-2) is false.
>
> The -2 obviously means any large change in sound or rhythm, and
> especially the adding of syllables, which again, is the main issue
> with the Japanese.
>
> I recently introduced this theory to 20+ ppl at an English teacher's
> conference in Tokyo, and i am interested in hearing your response to it:
>
> Do you think your students or yoursleves might be able to use it to
> help draw attention to both aspects of spoken communication?
>
> Any feedback is welcome!
>
> Thank you very much,
> Chris P. Madden
>
>