Topic summary
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is the way in which a word or a language is spoken. In American Sign Language, pronunciation describes how a sign is constructed.
This may refer to generally agreed-upon sequences of sounds used in speaking a given word or all language in a specific dialect—"correct" or "standard" pronunciation—or simply the way a particular individual speaks a word or language.
Words' pronunciations can be found in reference works such as dictionaries. General-purpose dictionaries typically only include standard pronunciations, but regional or dialectal pronunciations may be found in more specific works. Orthoepy is the study of the pronunciation of a language.
Pronunciation can vary among individuals and groups based on factors such as childhood cultural exposure, current place of residence, speech or voice disorders, their ethnic group, their social class, or their education.