PRONUNCIATIONS

Pronunciation is the way in which words and sounds are spoken in a language. It encompasses the production of individual sounds (phonemes and allophones), as well as suprasegmental features such as stress, rhythm, and intonation. Pronunciation varies widely across languages, dialects, and individual speakers, and it can change over time within a speech community.

Linguists distinguish between phonemic (broad) and phonetic (narrow) transcription. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is commonly used to record pronunciation unambiguously. Dictionaries often present a phonetic transcription for words, sometimes accompanied by audio pronunciations.

There is no single "correct" pronunciation for a language. Accents reflect regional and social identities and may diverge from a standard variety. Variation arises from phonological rules, language contact, speaker experience, and personal articulation. Orthography can influence pronunciation, leading to spelling pronunciations, especially in borrowed words.

Pronunciation is a common focus in language learning and teaching, alongside grammar and vocabulary. It involves perception (listening) and production (speaking) skills, and may be taught with listening practice, articulation exercises, and phonological awareness. Technology now offers automated pronunciation feedback and speech synthesis.

The study of pronunciation intersects with sociolinguistics, as pronunciation can signal region, social group, or level of formality. It is a dynamic feature of language, continually evolving as communities adopt new sounds and patterns through contact, media, and education.