UNIVERSITY OF SAN JOSE-RECOLETOS

Cebu City
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Dissertation Abstract

TITLE : SUPRASEGMENTAL PHONEMES IN THE SPEECH EXPERT OF

PRES. C.P. GARCIA’S “FILIPINO FIRST POLICY”
AUTHOR : SIMPLICIA A. BALUNDO
DEGREE : DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE
SCHOOL : UNIVERSITY OF SAN JOSE- RECOLETOS
ADVISER : DR. ANGEL O. PESIRLA
PLACE OF PUBLICATION; CEBU CITY
DATE : JANUARY 2019
PAGES : 93

CONTENT ANALYSIS
I. OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the study is to analyze the suprasegmental phonenemes in the

textualities of speech excerpt of President Carlos P. Garcia’s “ Filipino First Policy”. And

the monograph is constructed based on the findings.

II. METHODOLOGY

This research utilizes the qualitative method of linguistic research which indicates

and analyzes the suprasegmental phonemes in the sentences of an excerpt from the

Third State of the Nation Address of President Carlos P. Garcia. All the sentences in the

discourse text are analyzed in five phases.

 Phase 1: Sentence Stress: Content Word Markers. Every sentence is

indicated with sentence stress, stressing only the content words. The sentence

stress indication is shown in this sample:

In the sóber éxercise of your constitútional prerógative as a frée péople, you

have elécted me Président of the Phílippine

Phase 2. Juncture: Thought Units Markers. The pitch level is indicated

in each sentence over the sentence stressed sentence as shown below.

In the sóber éxercise/ of your constitútional prerógative/ as a free

péople,// you have elécted me Président/ of the Phílippines.#

Phase 3. Pitch Level: Sentence Types Markers.The junctures are indicated in

the sentence stressed sentence as shown in this sample.

3 3
2 In the sóber éxercise 2/2 of your constitútional prerógative 2/2 as a frée

3 3 3
péople 2//,2 you have elécted me Président 2/2 of the Phílippines.#
1

Phase 4. Intonations: Speech Prosody Markers. The intonations are

indicated on the stressed,

3 3
2 In the sóber éxercise 2/2 of your constitútional prerógative2/2 as a frée
 3 3
péople2//,2 you have elécted me Président2/2 of the Phílippines.#
1

Phase 5. Monograph Construction. Based on the findings of the study,

a monograph on suprasegmental phonemes of English is constructed. The

outline below is followed

Prologue: What are Suprasegmental Phonemes.

Body: Suprasegmental Phonemes in the speech excerpt of President Carlos

P. Garcia’s Filipino First Policy

A. Sentence Stress

B. Junctures

C. Pitch Levels

D. Intonations

III. FINDINGS

The following results are revealed in the study:

Stresses are indicated in the first, second, third and even in the fourth syllables of

the content. The emphasis is indicated on the content words hence, sentence stress is a

content words markers. Junctures are indicated in each sentence to demarcate each

thought unit. The single slash (/) indicates sustained levels, double slash (//) indicates

rising level and the double crossbar to indicates falling level.

 Hence, junctures are thought units markers. Pitch Levels are indicated in each

thought unit. Thus, 2-3-2 pitch level for sustained or unfinished thought units and 2-3-1

pitch levels is indicated to determine a statement. And 2-3-3 for a series of words or it

mentioned uncertainty or incompletion. Hence pitch levels are sentence types markers.

Intonations mark the integration of stress, pitch levels, and junctures. 2-31 pattern

indicates rising-falling intonations to refer a declarative sentences, questions that begin in

an interrogative words or an imperative sentences. 2-3-3 indicates rising intonations pattern

which indicates uncertainty, a series of events or in a series of words separated by a

comma or it indicates a questions answerable by yes or no. Hence, intonations are speech

prosody markers.

The monograph constructed, ENGLISH PROSODY: SUPRASEGMENTAL

PHONEMES, is based on the findings of the study.

Based on the findings, it has been concluded that the suprasegmental phonemes of

English are revealed in the sentences in the speech excerpt of President Carlos P. Garcia’s

Filipino First Policy.

RECOMMENDATIONS

In view of the foregoing findings and conclusion of the study on suprasegmental

phonemes, the following recommendations are offered. Stress should be learned since

stress is important in oral communication. Junctures should be given importance in learning

English to develop comprehension. Pitch deserves to be given more attention to learning

the language since it is an integral part of oral communication. Teachers should learn first

the easy formula in knowing and practicing proper intonation patterns in sentences to be
able to speak English according to the correct intonation. The monograph on

suprasegmental phonemes may be employed by English teachers as supplementary

instructional material for English instruction.