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1

Rhythm and Vowel Quality in Accents of English

100%

Schwartz G.

Research in Language

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2010

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vol. 8

135-147

EN

This paper will examine rhythmic differences among native and non-native accents of English, and report on a pilot experiment investigating a hypothesized interaction between rhythm and vowel quality. A new metric, % SteadyState, an acoustic measure that quantifies the purity of vowels, appears to capture rhythmic differences that have been reported among various native and non-native accents of English. In the tradition of other recently developed rhythm metrics, these findings suggest a link between rhythm and segmental phonology. Additionally, the perspective gained from this study may be beneficial to learners whose goal is native-like vowel quality, offering an understanding of the dynamic properties of English vowels.

2

Rhythm and Vowel Quality in Accents of English

100%

Schwartz G.

Research in Language

|

2010

|

vol. 8

1-13

EN

In a sample of 27 speakers of Scottish Standard English two notoriously variable consonantal features are investigated: the contrast of /m/ and /w/ and non-prevocalic /r/, the latter both in terms of its presence or absence and the phonetic form it takes, if present. The pattern of realisation of non-prevocalic /r/ largely confirms previously reported findings. But there are a number of surprising results regarding the merger of /m/ and /w/ and the loss of non-prevocalic /r/: While the former is more likely to happen in younger speakers and females, the latter seems more likely in older speakers and males. This is suggestive of change in progress leading to a loss of the /m/ - /w/ contrast, while the variation found in non-prevocalic /r/ follows an almost inverse sociolinguistic pattern that does not suggest any such change and is additionally largely explicable in language-internal terms. One phenomenon requiring further investigation is the curious effect direct contact with Southern English accents seems to have on non-prevocalic /r/: innovation on the structural level (i.e. loss) and conservatism on the realisational level (i.e. increased incidence of [r] and [r]) appear to be conditioned by the same sociolinguistic factors.

3

THE USE OF ELECTRONIC DICTIONARIES FOR PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE BY UNIVERSITY EFL STUDENTS

75%

Metruk R.

Teaching English with Technology

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2017

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vol. 17

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issue 4

38-51

EN

This paper attempts to explore how Slovak learners of English use electronic dictionaries with regard to pronunciation practice and improvement. A total of 24 Slovak university students (subjects) completed a questionnaire which contained pronunciation-related questions in connection with the use of electronic dictionaries. The questions primarily concerned electronic editions of monolingual learner’s dictionaries, dictionaries intended for native speakers, and specialized (special-purpose) pronunciation dictionaries. The main objective of this small-scale study was to identify the frequency, manner, and types of electronic dictionaries used by the subjects in order to practice and improve their pronunciation. The findings indicate that the subjects of the study use electronic dictionaries for pronunciation practice relatively often, learner’s dictionaries being the most preferred choice. The study also recommends that EFL learners exploit the pronunciation conveniences of electronic dictionaries extensively.

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2 Research in Language

1 Teaching English with Technology

2 Schwartz G.

1 Metruk R.

1 2017

2 2010

Rhythm and Vowel Quality in Accents of English

Rhythm and Vowel Quality in Accents of English

THE USE OF ELECTRONIC DICTIONARIES FOR PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE BY UNIVERSITY EFL STUDENTS