Erroneous Word-Stress Patterns Used by EFL Yemeni Learners

This experimental study aims at investigating the English word-stress patterns used by Yemenis, learning English as a foreign language, and the erroneous stress patterns used by them. Accent or stress is a feature of high significance in English speech. At the level of a word, one syllable gets accentuated with primary stress. To achieve the purpose of this study, and to find out to what extent word stress of Received Pronunciation English poses difficulty on Yemeni Arabic speakers using English as a foreign language, 120 subjects of various scientific disciplines, were chosen for data collection. They were recorded and their utterances went through deep analysis based on the auditory impression of the researcher and on the spectrographic evidence resulting from the speech analysis of the software program PRAAT. The most significant findings reached by the researcher were that word-stress in the four-syllable target words were the most problematic for the speakers in which 53.2% of them put the stress, randomly, on the wrong syllables in words. Three-syllable target words appeared to be less problematic as 44.4% of the participants placed the stress inaccurately in words. The least difficulties encountered by the speakers were with the two-syllable target words where 70.6% of the speakers managed to pronounce the words with correct stress placement. It is noteworthy to mention that there was a tendency among the speakers who produced wrong stress patterns, to accent either the first syllable or the one including a long vowel or a diphthong in the words.

An Optimality Theory-Based Approach into the Phonotactic Constraints of English Spoken by Broadcasters in Nigeria

<p style="text-align: justify;">One of the observations in the English spoken particularly in Nigeria is phonotactic constraints. The constraints pin down the generalization which guide the articulation of sequences of phonemes. The paper examines the patterns of English consonant clusters articulation of Nigerian broadcasters in the onset and coda positions against Received Pronunciation English. The study is conducted within the framework of Optimality Theory (henceforth OT). 20 radio and television broadcasters from 4 electronic media were selected as participants. Data were obtained by means of production test and OT was employed for the analysis. The findings revealed that the participants used epenthetic vowels to break-up consonants clusters in the onset and consonant deletion to simplify clusters in the coda. The subjects’ productions can be captured by ranking Markedness constraints higher than Faithfulness constraints.</p>

Pronunciation Errors of Fricative Sounds Made by English Students

This research aims to identify pronunciation errors position made by students in the English Education Study Program University of Bengkulu and the sound that had the highest error percentage. This research was a descriptive quantitative research. To collect data, the researcher took 19 students from 94 students of the 7th semester in the academic year 2020/2021. The pronunciation test used in this study consisted of 35 words, each of which had one of the seven fricative sounds tested. To analyze the data obtained, researcher used the Audacity application with the help of Google Translate application. Audacity is used to see the amplitude generated from students. Meanwhile, Google Translate is a tool for comparing received pronunciation and pronunciation produced by students. The results of this study revealed that the most pronunciation errors that made by students occurred in the final position when compared the initial and medial. In addition, among seven fricative sounds, / ? / was the highest percentage of errors with 78%. Based on the research results, it can be concluded that the students' pronunciation ability of fricative sounds not affected on the level of the semester is taken but it depends on the position and the fricative sound.

Erzhanova Zhanna Borisovna. (2021). IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE RP PRONUNCIATION?// FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (ICFARS) April 2021, Berlin - Germany: collection of scientific papers / OEAPS OU.; editorial board: Flora Bertrand (editor-in-chief) [and others]. - Tallinn, Estonia: OEAPS OU., 2021. S. 37-39.

The standard language of a country is the language in which television and radio broadcasts are conducted and periodicals are published that are available throughout the country. This is the literary norm that we adhere to in an official setting. In the UK, this rule also exists. It is called Received Pronunciation, and it is what students who dream of speaking “British English” sigh for. RP is an accent, not a dialect, so you can really master it yourself. But is it necessary? And where did that accent come from anyway?

Phonological Analysis of English Vowel Pronunciation

This phonological analysis investigated the English vowel sounds as the central phenomena represented by letters descriptively and qualitatively. It was supported by the theories proposed by Finegan, Hayes, Kreidler, Skandera & Burleigh, Roach and Yule. The method of data collection was observational by identifying the English articulation. The articulatory phonetic identity method was used to analyze the data with competence in differentiating. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary was used as a standard form of British pronunciation (Received Pronunciation) to compare the sounds produced and differentiate the English alphabet letters. Some patterns of English vowel pronunciation were found, i.e. <r> positioned as a close syllable lengthens [A:, O:, 3:] and produces schwa, and does so similarly in diphthong. Double semivowels do not perform triphthong. The letters i, u, w and y produce triphthong when they are combined with vowels. Keywords: phonology, Received Pronunciation, vowels

A Longitudinal Evaluation of Tablet-Based Child Speech Therapy with Apraxia World

Digital games can make speech therapy exercises more enjoyable for children and increase their motivation during therapy. However, many such games developed to date have not been designed for long-term use. To address this issue, we developed Apraxia World, a speech therapy game specifically intended to be played over extended periods. In this study, we examined pronunciation improvements, child engagement over time, and caregiver and automated pronunciation evaluation accuracy while using our game over a multi-month period. Ten children played Apraxia World at home during two counterbalanced 4-week treatment blocks separated by a 2-week break. In one treatment phase, children received pronunciation feedback from caregivers and in the other treatment phase, utterances were evaluated with an automated framework built into the game. We found that children made therapeutically significant speech improvements while using Apraxia World, and that the game successfully increased engagement during speech therapy practice. Additionally, in offline mispronunciation detection tests, our automated pronunciation evaluation framework outperformed a traditional method based on goodness of pronunciation scoring. Our results suggest that this type of speech therapy game is a valid complement to traditional home practice.

Sociolinguistic perspective on varieties of English: implications for teaching

The article explores the issue of language standardisation and sociolinguistic roots of varieties of English. It answers the question why some varieties of the English language become recognised as „standard” whereas other varieties are regarded as less prestigious or inferior and advocates the importance of sociolinguistic competence for teachers. Two models of language standardisation (the „popular” and the „expert” model) are critically discussed, providing a detailed explanation of the process of language standardisation and the formation of standard language ideology. The most frequently described variety of English in the UK, the Received Pronunciation, is described in greater detail, tracking down the reason why it has become recognised as the "standard" variety. A strong standard ideology with World Englishes and the current position of regional variations of English as its „deficient” or „fossilized” versions is discussed. The notions of language system and language use are considered in relation to the superiority or inferiority of different varieties. It has been shown that the social component is pivotal in understanding why certain varieties are regarded as less prestigious or inferior despite having equally rich and complex language systems. Such factors as stereotypes and ownership have an impact on their status too. The article proceeds to the discussion of implications of these sociolinguistic aspects for teaching. The importance of teachers' critical awareness of sociolinguistic realities is emphasised. Such benefits of raising students' awareness of varieties of English are presented: avoiding or reducing misunderstandings and misinterpretations in foreign language communication, recognising linguistic and cultural diversity, demonstrating relevance to real-life situations. Specific examples of practising language varieties are given.