Download or read book An Acoustic Investigation of English Vowels as Produced by English L1 and Setswana L1 Foundation Phase Learners written by Maria Le Roux and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 910 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thesis provides a literature review on various topics related to the aims of the research project. In the process of sketching the rationale of this study, the language-in-education policy (LiEP) of South Africa is examined. The reasons why this policy is not successful, is discussed. Emanating from this discussion, the low literacy scores amongst young learners in South Africa are described and possible reasons for this occurrence are cited (Howie, Van Staden, Tshele, Dowse, & Zimmerman, 2012). The hypothesis that perceptual and articulation training of the vowels of English would enhance young English second language (Setswana first language-speaking) learners? awareness of English vowels, is posited and defended by referring to previous research (Moats, 2007; Trehearne, 2011; Seeff-Gabriel, 2003). In addition, it is stated that increased knowledge of the vowel system of English will improve English second language (EL2) learners? literacy skills (Moats, 2007). In order to explain and discuss the results of the investigations into the literacy skills of the EL2 learners participating in this study, the notions of literacy acquisition, phonological awareness skills, and language acquisition and language learning are examined. The main aim of this study is to assess the effects of intervention on the auditory perception and articulatory skills of English second language-speaking (EL2) (Setswana L1-speaking) learners in Grade 3, in the production of the monophthongs and diphthongs of the standard variety of South African English, namely White South African English (WSAfE) (Bekker, 2009). The effects are determined by acoustically comparing the vowel spaces of the participants before and after intervention. Therefore, a discussion of acoustic concepts such as the vowel space and the parameters thereof are provided. In addition, the vowels of WSAfE, those of Black South African English (BSAE), and the vowels of Setswana are discussed and compared according to their acoustic features. The results of this quasi-experimental, comparative study indicate that the vowel spaces of the EL1 and EL2 participants differ markedly before intervention, especially when comparing those of the short and long monophthongs of English. After intervention, the vowel spaces of especially the Experimental group are seen to approximate those of the EL1 participants in the Norm group. Interesting findings concerning the central schwa vowels and the diphthongs were made. These indicate that young EL2 (Setswana L1-speaking) learners do not use BSAE, but use a new? variety of English that is closer to WSAfE (Mesthrie, 2008). Pertaining to the measurable sub-aims of this study, the phonological awareness skills and literacy skills of the participants are assessed and compared, before and after intervention. The improvement of the phonological awareness skills and literacy skills of the Experimental group, as well as the changes in the vowel spaces that are noted for this group, prove the hypothesis that intervention in the form of additional input concerning the English vowels will enhance second language learners? perception and articulation. This strengthens the opinion that second language learners need quality teaching of the sound system of the language of learning and teaching.

Download or read book An Acoustic Study of English Vowels Produced by Persian EFL Students written by Hilda Delavari and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Individual Differences in Second language Vowel Learning written by A. Lengeris and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Adults often have difficulty in acquiring non-native vowels especially when the vowel inventories in first (L1) and second language (L2) are very different. However, even when testing L2 groups with similar profiles, there are great individual differences in the perception and production of non-native sounds. Similarly, computer-based training studies of L2 sounds report that improvement after training can range greatly across individuals. This thesis explores possible sources of individual differences in Greek native speakers' perception and production of Southern British English vowels. Study 1 examined the perceived relationship between English vowels (in /bVb/ and /bVp/ contexts) and Greek vowels along with English vowel discrimination by the same participants. Greek speakers were found to perceive English vowels via both spectral and temporal assimilation to their L1 categories despite the fact that Greek does not use duration in L1 vowel distinctions. Study 2 defined the endpoints for the synthetic vowel continua to be used in Study 3 using a best exemplars experiment. In study 3, Greek speakers from a homogenous population (in terms of L1 background, age of L2 learning, amount and quality of L2 input) were tested on a large test battery before and after receiving 5 sessions of high-variability perceptual training. The test battery examined their perception of natural and synthetic vowels in L1 (Greek) and L2 (English) and their frequency discrimination ability (F2 only) as well as their production of L2 vowels. Group results showed significant improvement in the trainees' perception of natural L2 vowels and their L2 vowel production. However, large individual differences were evident both before and after training. Vowel processing in L2 was found to relate to individual variability in vowel processing in L1 and, importantly, to frequency discrimination acuity, a finding that favours an auditory processing hypothesis for L1 and L2 speech perception of vowels.

Download or read book The Sounds of English written by Henry Sweet and published by . This book was released on 1923 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book English Vowels as Produced by Russian Speakers written by Lynnette R. Frette and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book An Acoustic Comparison of the Vowels and Diphthongs of First language and African Mother tongue South African English written by Janus Daniel Brink and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Speaker accent influences the accuracy of automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems. Knowledge of accent based acoustic variations can therefore be used in the develop ment of more robust systems. This project investigates the differences between first language (L1) and second language (L2) English in South Africa with respect to vowels and diphthongs. The study is specifically aimed at L2 English speakers with a native African mother tongue, for instance speakers of isi-Zulu, isi-Xhosa, Tswana or South Sotho. The vowel systems of English and African languages, as described in the linguistic literature, are compared to predict the expected deviations of L2 South African English from L1. A number of vowels and diphthongs from L1 and L2 speakers are acoustically compared and the results are correlated with the linguistic predictions. The comparison is firstly made in formant space using the first three formants found using the Split Levinson algorithm. The L1 vowel centroids and diphthong trajectories in this three-dimensional space are then compared to their L2 counterparts using analysis of variance. The second analysis method is based on simple hidden Markov models (HMMs) using Mel-scaled cepstral features. Each HMM models a vowel or diphthong from one of the two speaker groups and analysis of variance is again used to compare the L1 and L2 HMMs. Significant differences are found in the vowel and diphthong qualities of the two language groups which supports the linguistically predicted effects such as vowel substitution, peripheralisation and changes in diphthong strength. The long-term goal of this project is to enable the adaptation of existing L1 English recognition systems to perform equally well on South African L2 English.

Download or read book Vowel Sounds written by Hunter Calder and published by Pascal Press. This book was released on 2003 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Excel English Early Skills: Vowel Sounds your child will explore the relationship between vowels and their sounds. They wi ll learn to: listen for the sound of vowels at the beginnin g of words recognise vowel sounds in the middle of words recognise words that rhyme Understanding vowel sounds i s essential for children to develop their abilities in reading and compr ehension. The activities in this book are divided into double pages. Eac h double page allows your child to practise one particular skill many ti mes so that the skill is reinforced. Every page has an extra extension a ctivity to further enrich your child's learning.

Download or read book Perception and Production of Canadian English Vowels by L1 Spanish Speakers written by Santiago Barreda and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Phonological Context in the Acquisition of Second Language Vowelss written by Ewa Jacewicz and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 474 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Pronunciation of American English Vowels by Native Hebrew Speakers written by Sarah S. Mountain and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book An Acoustic Analysis of Vowel Variation in New World English written by Erik R. Thomas and published by Sound & Meaning: The Roman Jak. This book was released on 2001 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An Acoustic Analysis of Vowel Variation in New World English examines acoustical variations in vowel configurations in a wide variety of dialects of English found in the Western Hemisphere. While the work opens with an introduction on the methods and aims of the study, the following chapter immediately moves to a detailed discussion of distinctive vowel sounds called phonemes, characterizing each variant of sound listed within the cited reference literature. The remaining chapters provide explanatory descriptions of the variants of each dialect, reviewing past research specific to that dialect. While the United States English, Canadian English, and Caribbean varieties are featured in various chapters throughout the work, individual chapters are devoted to African-American, Mexican-American, and Native American English, emphasizing not only ethnic variation but delving into the historical development of each dialect. This monograph is an essential reference on vowel variation for all sociolinguists, phoneticians, phonologists, creolists, and historical linguists.

Download or read book The Phonemes of English written by Antonie Cohen and published by . This book was released on 1971 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Phonemes of English written by Antonie Cohen and published by . This book was released on 1965 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Tefl written by Cathy Suzuki and published by . This book was released on 1998-10 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This poster is intended for pupils learning English, and features a detailed diagram of the mouth movements required to make each vowel sound.

Download or read book The Influence of the L1 Arabic Vowel Inventory on the Production of L2 British English Vowels written by and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Influence of the L1 Arabic Vowel Inventory on the Production of L2 British English Vowels written by Sarah Alghabban and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book L One and L Two Production and Perception of English and Spanish Vowels written by Geoffrey Steward Morrison and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: