Killing pronunciation 12: Memory for new pronunciation: Better heard (or felt) but not seen!

Another in our series of practices that undermine effective pronunciation instruction!

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(Maybe) bad news from visual neuroscience: You may have to dump those IPA charts, multi-colored vowel charts, technicolor xrays of the inside of mouth, dancing avatars--and even haptic vowel clocks! Well . . . actually, it may be better to think of those visual gadgets as something you use briefly in introducing sounds, for example, but then dispose of them or conceptually background them as quickly as possible.

New study by Davis et al at University of Connecticut, Making It Harder to “See” Meaning: The More You See Something, the More Its Conceptual Representation Is Susceptible to Visual Interference, summarized by Neurosciencenews.com, suggests that visual schemas of vowel sounds, for example, could be counter productive--unless of course, you close your eyes . . . but then you can't see the chart in front of you, of course. 

Subjects were basically confronted with a task where they had to try and recall a visual image or physical sensation or sound while being presented with visual activity or images in their immediate visual field. The visual "clutter" interfered substantially with their ability to recall the other visual "object" or image, but it did not impact their recall of other sensory "image" (auditory, tactile or kinesthetic) representation, such as non-visual concepts like volume or heat, or energy, etc.

We have had blogposts in the past that looked at research where it was discovered that it is more difficult to "change the channel," such that if a student is mispronouncing a sound, many times just trying to repeat the correct sound instead, with out introducing a new sensual or movement-set to accompany the new sound is not effective. In other words, an "object" in one sensory modality is difficult to just "replace," you must work around it, in effect, attaching other sensory information to it (cf multi-modal or multi-sensory instruction.)

So, according to the research, what is the problem with a vowel chart? Basically this: the target sound may be primarily accessed through the visual image, depending on the learner's cognitive preferences. I only "know" or suspect that from years of tutoring and asking students to "talk aloud" me through their strategies for remembering pronunciation of new words. It is overwhelming by way of the orthographic representation, the "letter" itself, or its place in a vowel chart or listing of some kind. (Check that out yourself with your students.)

So . .  what's the problem? If your "trail of bread crumbs" back to a new sound in memory is through a visual image of some kind, then if you have any clutter in your visual field that is the least distracting as you try to recall the sound, you are going to be much less efficient, to put it mildly. That doesn't mean you can't teach using charts, etc., but you'd better be engaging more of the multisensory system when you do or your learners' access to those sounds may be very inefficient, at best--or downgrade their importance in your method appropriately. 

In our haptic work we have known for a decade that our learners are very susceptible to being distracted by things going on in their visual field that pull their attention away from experiencing the body movement and "vibrations" in targeted parts of their bodies. Good to see "new-ol' science" is catching up with us!

I've got a feeling Davis et al are on to something there! I've also got a feeling that there are a few of you out there who may "see" some issues here that you are going to have to respond to!!!

Speaking of prose in pronunciation work

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

Generally "speaking," integration of pronunciation should focus on practice of conversational language and style--not simply dictionary entries, word lists and internet "magazine"columns. In the EHIEP framework, work on new sounds and "fixing" older ones is done exclusively using vocabulary that (ideally) the learner has at least a reasonable chance of encountering in speaking and listening.

Even in the EFL context, the target should be accessible for practice of some kind. In other words, especially because of prosody, dialogs, drama and oral reports of various kinds are essential for efficient integration. I can think of an exception.
There are texts that are not conversational but still meant to be read out loud. (Some previous posts have dealt with explicit reading of poetry, for example.) If you are a native speaker (NS) or a near native speaker (NNS) here is good test for you based on a piece from one of the greatest writers of English prose of all time: James Joyce.

As you may know, he insisted that his prose could not be truly understood unless read aloud. His control of the prosody of written narrative, such as a shot story was extraordinary. Try this. Record yourself reading the linked excerpt from "A portrait of the artist as a young man" two or three times without listening back until you are finished.

Assume that you are reading it for a sick friend, for example. Listen to the last cut first and then the first. As language teachers our speaking style in class can become all colors of strange. If you want to know what it feels like to communicate well in the classroom, the felt sense of personal expository talk and mood that is both genuine, composed (not hyper- teacher-talk-ish) and yet still comprehensible for students, there you have it. 

10 Reasons You Should Never Allow an AI-Phone at Dinner

The 10 listed are all pretty much "common sense," only differ in that they are (1) are more or less backed up with research, (2) most are predicated on AI being meaningfully in the mix, and (3) all were initially drafted by AI (Perplexity.) I have done extensive editing, both in content and research citations leaving the section themes in place  and inserting occasional "ME" comments.

 

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1. An AI-Phone replaces a shared inquiry with singular, outsourced "consultations."

Dinner conversation inevitably includes questions two or more people explore together — Who was president in 1987? Research on AI-assisted trivia reveals that once an AI answer is presented, many tend to stop admitting "I don't know," even when the AI response does not seem correct or complete. Once AI is consulted, instead of thinking aloud together across the table, a shared puzzle becomes a private, quick "research" task, and the drift of the conversation may flounder temporarily to recover. [Me: from Psychology Today]

2. It suggests to dinner companion(s), in effect, that the AI is a trusted voice to be trusted . . . 

Clinical observerations have described a relational "injury," when a disagreement is settled by consulting AI rather than working it out with their companion. It can produce  feelings of distrust and having been overruled, implicitly considering the machine's judgment above that of the other person, and not infrequently, the iPhone's owner is given a slight "one up" as well in status. That's a kind of slight well beyond just checking a text message. It is stepping out of the flow — outsourcing the relationship's important "collaborative reasoning" function. [Me: another Psychology Today report]

3. It integrates in a third, unaccountable "authority" or persona into the conversation 

Philosophers studying AI-mediated communication describe AI answers as functioning as an "argument from authority." Once that voice is invoked, participants are no longer trying to persuade— they're answering to and perhaps contending with something that can be difficult to challenge successfully, or not worth the time to. [ME: that, of course, is not exactly the case with most chatbots; they can be at least probed as to their sources and process but . . . based on an technical 2026 article on Epistemics of AI byHoorn and Oosterglorenwoud]

4. It changes one of the potential underlying functions of a disagreement in conversation from collaboration to consultation.

Normal human disagreement is a dynamic process — two people testing ideas against each other, adjusting, sometimes changing their minds. Automation-bias research, first documented in aviation and clinical decision-making, shows that people almost systematically abandon their own effortful or critical  reasoning once an automated appears. At the table, that means the AI-phone doesn't just answer the question — it ends or at least compromises the process of disagreement, which may have other functions as well, such as play. [ME: from a 2011 review article]

5. It creates the sense of resolution without the important relational, time-tagged "leg work" and compromise that help provide the memory trail back later.

A 2025 blog post on AI epistemics coins the term "epistemia" — a condition where fluent, confident-sounding language substitutes for real evaluation, producing "the feeling of knowing without the labor of judgment". Applied to a conversation, that labor of judgment is the relational work — the negotiating, the listening, the occasional concession, all the nonverbal "dance" accompanying the talk — the AI-phone skips straight to a settled decision instead. [ME: from a brief, interesting piece in outline form]

6. It recasts "not knowing together" as more of a minor problem to be offloaded to AI and fixed, rather than a potentially memorable bonding experience.

Not knowing something traditionally used to be a low-stakes, even charming, part or strategy of getting closer— the shared "huh, let's think about that." Automation-bias research again shows that once an automated aid is in play, independent verification and reasoning almost by reflex are undermined as well.  Repeated, it slowly redefines uncertainty from something we "move through and explore together" into AI's standby responsibility. The emotional consequences or loss can be far reaching.  [ME: Same source article as in #4]

7. Even just sitting there on the table, innocuously, it comes to the conversation having cognitively transformed both it's owner all in the conversation . . . 

Studies of smartphone presence during conversation have found that a phone visible on the table — untouched, screen dark — measurably reduces how connected and satisfying people report the exchange to be. With an AI-phone specifically, that background presence functions less like a neutral object and more like a silent third participant who could, at any moment, spring forth and out-argue even the sharpest. (based on a 2024 article by Roach and Coughlin.) (That is not even to mention the widely discussed, but generally overblown problems with spyware surreptitiously installed on smartphone to listen in when the phone is not on.)

8. Rewiring baseline expectations for what counts as "settled" and when. 

A 2026 survey on search-first behavior found people increasingly resolve questions before a conversation even happens, describing a broader shift from "mutual discovery" to "confirmation" (xperson) in everyday talk. Bring an AI-phone to dinner and that shift moves from *before* the conversation to inside it — every open question becomes something to confirm rather than something to explore with the person you're eating with. 

9. It's quietly dulling the reasoning skills relationships depends on.(see other posts!)

MIT researchers tracked people over four weeks and found that relying on AI for definitive, on-demand answers correlated with a measurable decline in unaided reasoning — while many participants believed they were getting sharper. Users who hand over open questions to the AI-phone are not just avoiding debate; their capacity to reason things out together, or alone, very likely erodes a little each time, as well. [ME: From The Guardian, but still an accurate report]

10. It turns persuasion — the dance of relationships — into mere citation.

Healthy relationships are cultivated on the slow work of persuading, listening, and occasionally being wrong in front of someone who respects you, regardless. Once the AI-phone becomes the default appeal to authority, persuasion gets replaced by a shared willingness, at least superficially, to accept whatever the bot says, without a thorough examination of the sources consulted and the line of argument leading to the bot's conclusion — which is a much thinner, relational way to arrive at agreement. The result is a take away that is analogous to a simple citation, without associated rationale. [ME: based on the same article as in #3 above.]

The takeaway: an AI-phone at dinner doesn't just distract — it inserts a confident, unaccountable third party into a space that used to belong entirely to the two (or several) at the table. Left in the other room, letting the argument about who really won the '87 World Series stay unresolved for a time — the unresolved, perhaps slightly annoying, but the working-it-out-together sensation is grounded in a virtually, genuine "higher" level of human intelligence than AI is yet to achieve . . . 

Daily (Evangelical Christian/Scriptual) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship, v1.0

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton. It is one of about a dozen that will be appearing on the blog, including Evangelical, Anglican,Unitarian, Orthodox, Shinto,Aboriginal, Hip hop, Gregorian, Dawkins meets Ojibwe wisdom, Hindu,  and Klingon!  These are all created to be experienced read aloud, not for silent reading!

We live in a world where our lives and identities are gradually being drawn “out there” online—our finances, our health, our understanding of the world, our reputations. 

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The following simple litany is meant to be prayed slowly, out loud, (in about 5 minutes) as a way of starting or ending our day with Christ in the midst of our rapidly evolving more and more digital lives. It is also a work (forever) in progress. It will be updated frequently, I'm sure! Please feel free to comment, suggest changes, additions or links to other sources of help and insight! 

1. Starting the day with Jesus  

Father in heaven, may your name be holy in my life, my home, and my online world today. (Matthew 6:9, NLT) Lord Jesus, you’ve protected and guided me so many times in the past—often when I didn’t see it until later.  May your kingdom come and your will be done in everything I do, read, click on, sign, or share today, just as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10, NLT)  

I lay before you all that I am—here and “out there”—and my good name. These all belong to you; I’m only stewarding them for a while.  Please keep me and my family safe from deception, lies, scams, deepfakes, and all harm in this world of increasing digital technologies. (Matthew 6:13, NLT)  

2. Honest talk with the Lord and who I am in Christ  

Lord Jesus, I admit that sometimes I trust what people say in person or online more than I trust you.  “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10, NLT)  Thank you that my life and identity are in you:  

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1, NLT)  You have watched over me through many seasons—through mistakes, close calls, and problems I could not understand or fix.  May no stolen number and nothing at all separate me from your love. (Romans 8:39, NLT)  

 3. Handing the tools that help protect me over to God  

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” (Psalm 24:1, NLT)  My information, my data, my money, and any legal matters are yours.  Today I again place before you all the tools that help guard and protect me [                         ] for example, in my case, IDShield watching over my personal information, credit, accounts, and reputation and LegalShield there to guide and defend me in legal matters.  

“You are our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, NLT)  Help me treat these services and people not as replacements for you, but as your creations—one way you may answer my prayers and provide help when I need it.  

 4. A simple morning check with [                      ] for me, with IDShield (Use this when you take a quick look at your protection service, app, email, or online account.)  

Before I look at anything, Lord, I look to you:  “I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” (Psalm 121:1–2, NLT)  You have helped me many times before—closing doors that would have hurt me and opening doors I couldn’t see.  

If everything looks normal:  

“Thank you that you keep watch over my life. You keep watch over my coming and going, both now and forever.” (Psalm 121:7–8, NLT)  Thank you for the quiet days when nothing seems wrong. Help me stay awake and careful, but not worried.  

If there’s an alert or something that doesn’t look right:  

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, NLT)  “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything… Then you will experience God’s peace.” (Philippians 4:6–7, NLT) Jesus, calm my fears like you have so many times before.  

Help me stay patient and clear‑headed as I seek assistance, make calls, read, and respond. (James 1:5; James 3:17, NLT)  Work through those who help me, and turn even this problem into something you can use for good in my life. (Romans 8:28, NLT)  

5. Walking and working wisely with technology today  

Holy Spirit, “Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!” (Psalm 86:11, NLT)  Guide me in all I do and communicate, especially in the online world of digital technologies.  Jesus, you said, “Be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16, NLT)  Help me be careful but not hard‑hearted; trusting but not gullible; brave but not careless.  You’ve corrected me gently so often when I spoke or acted against my own best interests and your will;  keep shaping me so that my life reflects a heart that walks closely with you.  

 6. Praying for my family and others  

Lord Jesus, you have guarded my family in many ways over the years—sometimes in ways we only understood later.  You “place the lonely in families” and call us to help carry each other’s burdens. (Psalm 68:6; Galatians 6:2, NLT)  

I lift up my family and loved ones to you by name now.  “May the Lord… protect you from all evil; he will protect your life.” (Psalm 121:7, NLT)  Protect them,  their information, their money and their good name.  Keep them safe from scams, fake messages, and anyone who would misuse them.  Give them wisdom and a strong sense that you are close.  

I also pray for all the individuals and families who use [                    ]  IDShield and LegalShield in my case. May these services be honest, wise, and caring—especially for anyone who feels lost with technology.  In moments of fear or trouble, draw people to you, Jesus, “our Advocate who pleads our case before the Father.” (1 John 2:1, NLT)  

7. Ending the day in God’s care  

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” (Psalm 4:8, NLT)  I ask you to look into my heart:  “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23–24, NLT)  Where I let fear about money, security, or my name control me today, please forgive me and grow my trust.  

Where I ignored wise precautions, help me learn and change.  Where I acted as a faithful caretaker of what you’ve given me, thank you for your Spirit’s help.  Tonight I place my identity, my information, my accounts, my legal matters, and my family in your hands again.  “He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.” (Psalm 121:3, NLT)  

You have watched over my “coming and going” through many years; please keep watching over my online and offline life, now and always. (Psalm 121:8, NLT)  

Lord Jesus, my Savior, my Shepherd, my Advocate, my Friend,  

in your name, 

Amen.  

If you find this litany helpful, consider printing it and keeping it near your computer, or saving it on your phone where you can easily pull it up. You might also share it with family members or friends who feel overwhelmed by technology but want to walk faithfully with Jesus in a world filled with digital risks and opportunities. Used daily, even in brief form, it can gently train your heart to see your online life as part of your discipleship, not separate from it.

Before I look at anything, Lord, I look to you:  “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” (Psalm 121:2, NLT)  

link to Anglican Digital Litany

Link to Unitarian Litany

wracton@gmail.com

www.williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com