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CEFR Phonological Competence and Pronunciation Flashcards

7 cards from real CEFR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. How does the CEFR treat a learner's non-native accent in phonological competence assessment?

    Answer: A foreign accent is acceptable as long as it does not impede communication

    The CEFR takes a plurilingual, inclusive stance: a foreign accent is acceptable at all levels as long as intelligibility is maintained; the goal is communication, not native-speaker imitation.

  2. Which CEFR level requires a learner to 'vary intonation and place sentence stress correctly in order to express subtler shades of meaning'?

    Answer: C1

    The CEFR C1 phonological descriptor specifies the ability to vary intonation and use sentence stress with precision to convey nuanced meaning, reflecting advanced oral control.

  3. What is 'lexical stress' as a component of CEFR phonological competence?

    Answer: The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables within a word

    Lexical stress refers to which syllable in a multi-syllable word receives emphasis, e.g., 'PREsent' (noun) versus 'preSENT' (verb), and is a core component of phonological competence.

  4. According to CEFR principles, what is the primary communicative goal of phonological competence?

    Answer: Achieving intelligibility across a range of interlocutors

    The CEFR prioritizes intelligibility and effective communication over accent-free or native-like pronunciation, reflecting its action-oriented approach to language use.

  5. Which phonological process describes the dropping of a sound, particularly at word boundaries in rapid speech?

    Answer: Elision

    Elision is the omission of a sound or syllable in connected speech, such as dropping the /t/ in 'last night' to produce 'las night,' and is a key feature of natural phonological competence.

  6. At CEFR level A2, which statement most accurately describes expected pronunciation?

    Answer: Pronunciation may require repetition but is generally intelligible despite a foreign accent

    The A2 descriptor states that pronunciation is 'generally clear enough to be understood despite a noticeable foreign accent,' though conversational partners may occasionally need to ask for repetition.

  7. Which aspect of phonological competence does the CEFR describe as 'segmental'?

    Answer: Individual vowel and consonant sounds (phonemes)

    Segmental phonology deals with individual phonemes—the discrete vowel and consonant sounds that distinguish words—as opposed to suprasegmental features like stress and intonation.