Overview
The lecture presents an overview of key French pronunciation rules, focusing on vowel and consonant sounds, silent letters, and common pronunciation patterns.
French Vowel Sounds
- French vowels include a, e, i, o, u and sometimes y.
- Vowels can be nasalized when followed by 'n' or 'm', changing the sound (e.g., 'bon', 'pain').
- Some vowel combinations create new sounds (e.g., 'au', 'eu', 'ou', 'ai').
French Consonant Sounds
- Most final consonants are silent, except for c, r, f, and l (remembered with the phrase "CaReFuL").
- The letter 'h' is always silent in French.
- The letter 'ç' (cedilla) is pronounced as /s/ (e.g., garçon).
Pronunciation Rules and Patterns
- Accent marks change vowel pronunciation: 'é' is /e/, 'è' is /ɛ/, 'ê' is /ɛ/, 'ë' is pronounced separately.
- 'gn' is pronounced like the 'ny' in canyon (e.g., 'champagne').
- Liaison links final consonants of a word to initial vowels of the next word in connected speech, making the consonant pronounced.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Nasal vowel — a vowel pronounced with air flowing through the nose (as in 'non', 'pain').
- Liaison — the linking of the final consonant of one word to the initial vowel of the next.
- Cedilla (ç) — a mark under the letter 'c' indicating the /s/ sound.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice pronouncing French vowel and consonant sounds aloud.
- Review common French words and identify silent letters.
- Memorize accent marks and their impact on pronunciation.