Delivery and language control - Pronunciation and intonation

Learning Outcomes

After reading this article, you will be able to identify the important features of English pronunciation and intonation required by the TOEFL iBT Speaking section. You will understand how clear pronunciation, accurate stress, and correct intonation patterns affect delivery, as well as how to recognize and address common pronunciation difficulties. You will also be able to distinguish rising and falling intonation and apply effective strategies to sound more natural and understandable in academic speech.

TOEFL iBT Syllabus

For TOEFL, you are required to be able to speak with clear pronunciation and appropriate English intonation to ensure other people can easily follow your speech. For revision, focus on these syllabus points:

• Produce vowels and consonants clearly enough for listeners to understand without effort.
• Use sentence stress and word stress to highlight important information.
• Apply rising and falling intonation as appropriate for questions, statements, and lists.
• Recognize the influence of native language on common pronunciation errors in English.
• Adjust delivery speed and use pauses to improve clarity and comprehension.
• Listen for, and imitate, standard accent models from TOEFL resources and use accurate rhythm and sentence melody.

Test Your Knowledge

Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.

1. What is meant by the term "intonation" in spoken English?
2. How does sentence stress affect a listener’s understanding in TOEFL Speaking?
3. Which type of intonation—rising or falling—is usually found at the end of yes/no questions?
4. True or false: Every English word carries stress on the first syllable.

Introduction

Clear delivery is an essential part of TOEFL iBT Speaking. The exam assesses how easily other listeners can understand what you say in academic contexts. This depends on both the pronunciation of English sounds and the use of intonation and stress within phrases and sentences.

Key Term: Pronunciation
The way speech sounds are produced and combined to form words and sentences, including individual vowels and consonants.

Key Term: Intonation
The pattern of pitch movement (rise and fall) in spoken English, used to signal questions, statements, or emotions.

Key Term: Stress
The emphasis placed on particular syllables in words and on key words in sentences to show importance.

Pronunciation Features

Good pronunciation in English means:

• Producing vowels and consonants accurately, including difficult sounds not present in your native language.
• Avoiding speaking too quickly or too slowly, and grouping words into “thought groups” with short pauses at natural breaks.
• Using correct syllable stress in polysyllabic words (“record” as a noun: RE-cord; as a verb: re-CORD).
• Not omitting sounds at the ends of words ("cat" vs "cap").

Common Pronunciation Challenges

Many English learners face difficulty with particular sounds, such as:

• "th" /θ/ as in "think" and /ð/ as in "this"
• "v" vs "w" distinction
• “r” and “l” difference

To improve, listen carefully to models and repeat the sounds in short words, then longer phrases. Practice with minimal pairs (“light”/“right”).

Worked Example 1.1

Read the sentence aloud:
"She bought new shoes at the store."

Which word is stressed in natural English speech?

Answer:
In normal speech, you should stress “bought”, “shoes”, and “store,” because these words carry the main meaning. The other words ("she", "new", "at", "the") are unstressed or said more quickly.
Exam Warning
Many students deliver all words with the same loudness or speed, making their speech unnatural and difficult for listeners to process. Use natural stress and rhythm.

Intonation Patterns

Intonation shows the movement of pitch in your speech. In English:

• Statements usually end with falling intonation.
• Yes/no questions are spoken with rising intonation.
• Wh- questions often end with falling intonation.

Correct intonation makes your speech sound more English-like, and it shows the listener when an idea or sentence ends.

Worked Example 1.2

Say the following aloud, using natural intonation:

1. "Are you ready?"
2. "Where are you going?"

Describe the intonation expected at the end.

Answer:

1. "Are you ready?" is a yes/no question and ends with a rise in pitch ("reaDY?").
2. "Where are you going?" is a wh-question and ends with a fall in pitch ("GOing.").
   Key Term: Rising Intonation
   When the pitch of your voice goes up at the end of a word or sentence, usually in yes/no questions or when expressing doubt.
   Key Term: Falling Intonation
   When the pitch of your voice drops at the end of a sentence, common in statements and wh-questions.

Word and Sentence Stress

English uses stress to draw attention to new or important information. Each multisyllable word has a fixed syllable that must be stressed for correct pronunciation. Within a sentence, the important words (nouns, main verbs, adjectives, adverbs) are usually stressed, while minor words (pronouns, prepositions, articles) are less prominent.

Worked Example 1.3

Say each word aloud:

a) photograph
b) photographer
c) photographic

Identify which syllable is stressed.

Answer:
a) PHO-tograph (first syllable stressed)
b) pho-TOG-ra-pher (second syllable stressed)
c) pho-to-GRAPH-ic (third syllable stressed)
Exam Warning
Incorrect syllable stress in longer words often makes your speech hard to understand, even if all the sounds are correct.

Common TOEFL Pronunciation Issues

Non-native speakers are sometimes marked down on TOEFL for:

• Flat, monotonous intonation (all sentences the same pitch)
• Stressing the wrong word or syllable
• Inconsistent speech rate, or running words together in unnatural chunks
• Speaking too softly or mumbling

Revision Tip
Record your spoken answers on your phone or computer and listen back for stress, intonation, and clarity. Compare to high-scoring TOEFL samples.

Summary

Pronunciation and intonation are essential for being understood on TOEFL Speaking. Focus on producing English sounds and rhythm as expected by native listeners. Practice with models, record yourself, and use feedback to refine your delivery.

Key Point Checklist

This article has covered the following key knowledge points:

• Describe what is meant by pronunciation, intonation, and stress in English.
• Produce English sounds and syllable stress so that spoken words are clear.
• Use rising intonation for yes/no questions and falling intonation for statements and wh-questions.
• Apply natural English word and sentence stress to highlight important content.
• Recognize frequent learner errors with English delivery and intonation.
• Practice TOEFL Speaking with audio recording and model speakers for feedback.

Key Terms and Concepts

• Pronunciation
• Intonation
• Stress
• Rising Intonation
• Falling Intonation