Our catch phrase is on its way.

Dear Fellow Earthlings,

In Jingles theory, 4 synergy levels form the main framework for each human language. Primary synergy (S1) for English is a “condition”, housed in the region of the navel. Secondary synergy (S2) has two locations: One location, housed, again, in the navel, is characterized by surging and is thus a “wave-type synergy”. The other, housed in the tongue tip is “positional” in nature. Tertiary synergy. located in the mouth, comprises traditional oral cavity gestures – and is “positional” for articulators, “wavelike” for sonorants. Quaternary synergy, located in various parts of the body, comprises dialectal features of a given language – and comprises either “waves” or “positions”.

For the past few years the system of synergy levels has worked well – and has served as a valuable theoretical underpinning for all we at “The Jingles” do when training our clients.

Recently, the notion of of pitch change, normally assigned either 2S or 3S rubrics depending on the vowel they accompany, has come under scrutiny – and I am currently thinking of reassigning pitch change as a special type of 2S (secondary synergy), to be called “secondary synergy, medial” – since the diaphragm, responsible for most of what occurs during pitch change, is located medially, betweeen the upper, tongue tip S2U gestures and the lower, abdominal surging S2L gestures.

Whatever theoretical system is finally agreed upon, “The Jingles” will continue to be head and shoulders above any other target language phonology training system!

Steve Walker, Earthsaver and Jingles Creator

© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.