Two traditions have arisen from an ongoing debate concerning cross-linguistic laryngeal representations in series of obstruents. The first, ‘traditional’ approach assumes universally identical laryngeal representations: /p, t, k/ are unspecified and /b, d, g/ carry |voice|. The second, Laryngeal Realism (LR), assumes underlyingly different representations between languages: ‘aspiration languages’ have unspecified /b, d, g/, and /p, t, k/ specified for |spread|. ‘Voice languages’ have unspecified /p, t, k/, and /b, d, g/ specified for |voice|. In this thesis, I use historical data in order to determine which of these two traditions is correct. Chapter 1 introduces the thesis subject and places it in the broader context of representational models of theoretical phonology and general historical linguistics. In chapter 2, I discuss the discrepancy between traditional laryngeal features and their cross-linguistic implementation, the basis of the debate outlined above. The two traditions are then discussed in detail. It is shown that evidence for LR is drawn from surface facts in aspiration- and voice languages such as respective presence or absence of aspiration of /p, t, k/, respective absence or presence of voicing in /b, d, g/ and asymmetry in assimilation processes in favour of one of the features. Present-Day English (PDE) is best described in LR when these criteria are taken into account, e.g., [ph]in, [b 0]in, and invariable assimilation to ‘voicelessness’, e.g., cats /t+z/→[ts], sacked /k+d/→[kt]. In the following chapters, I present data from historical laryngeal modifications in English which have never been considered together in this respect before. In Chapter 3, I present new evidence that the laryngeal situation just described for Present-Day English dates back to the very beginning of its recorded history. This is shown in the fact that all laryngeal assimilation throughout the history of English is exclusively assimilation to ‘voicelessness’ or |spread| - as in pre-Old English [pd] > [pt] cepte ‘kept’, [td] > [tt] mette ‘met’, [kd] > [kt] iecte ‘increased’, [fd] > [ft] pyfte ‘puffed’, [sd] > [st] cyste ‘kissed’. LR can easily capture this asymmetry because |spread| is the only active member in the laryngeal opposition. |voice| is unspecified in English and can therefore never partake in phonological processes. Chapters 4, 5 and 6 deal with historical English data traditionally interpreted as ‘voicings’, i.e. addition of |voice|, and ‘devoicings’, i.e. loss of |voice|. Therefore, these data are potentially problematic for LR in that, according to this framework, |voice| is not specified in English. However, I show that LR can unproblematically deal with these phenomena as laryngeal lenition, removal of |spread|, and fortition, addition of |spread|. In fact, some of the lenition processes provide extra back up for LR. Processes in word-initial position, e.g., dialectal [v]ather, and final position, e.g., i[z], knowle[d3], are highly marked when viewed as ‘voicings’. However, when viewed as simple lenitions, as in LR, they are natural processes, which are predicted to be found in languages. Therefore, I show in this thesis that all available data from English historical laryngeal modification support LR, and that LR in its turn sheds an interesting new light on the data. It is superior to traditional accounts in that it can account for otherwise puzzling phenomena such as asymmetric assimilation and initial and final ‘voicings’.

The purpose of this study was to examine non-English-speaking Brazilian adults' perception of American English vowels at various levels of English contact. Specifically, it addressed two two-vowel American English contrasts, /i/-/I/ and /u/-/[upsilon]/, that both occupy the vowel space of one Brazilian Portuguese category, /i/ and /u/, and one twovowel contrast, /e/-/[epsilon]/, that exists in both languages. For reliability purposes, the three contrasts were presented in two different orders to total six contrasts in all. Predictions, based on Flege, (1995) associated discrimination difficulties with this L1-L2 contrast pairing. However, previous discoveries of non-native speakers' sensitivity to subphonemic differences suggested the potential to overcome L1-related perceptual constraints (Wode, 1994). Five groups of ten participants each [aged 20-40] contributed data [N=50]. Three Austin, Texas-resident groups participated: (group A) native American English speakers, (group B) native Brazilian Portuguese speakers with high English contact, and (group C) native Brazilian Portuguese-speakers with medium English contact. Belo Horizonte, Brazil-resident groups numbered two, including native Brazilian Portuguese speakers with medium English contact (group D) and low English contact (group E.) Each participant took a same-different identification test in which the target vowels appeared within minimal and identical pairs. Within-group results for medium and low contact groups associated significantly greater difficulty with the /u/-/[upsilon]/ contrast. Between-group results found significant differences between high and low contact groups for /u/-/[upsilon]/, /[upsilon]/-/u/, and /I/-/i/; insignificant differences between high contact and native English groups appeared for the same contrasts. These overall trends suggested a degree of flexibility for non-native perception in three of four instances as well as a significant pair-wise order effect. These overall findings should not minimize the importance of individual differences. Discussion concluded with calls for greater focus on individual differences (also reflected in Bradlow et al., 1997) and greater awareness of individuals' potentials within language learning contexts.

DOMINGOS, Francisca Liliane da Costa. Aprendizagem formal de fonologia e seus efeitos na pronúncia dos sons vocálicos do inglês de aprendizes brasileiros. 2012. 115f. – Dissertação (Mestrado) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Letras Vernáculas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Linguística, Fortaleza (CE), 2012. / Submitted by Márcia Araújo (marcia_m_bezerra@yahoo.com.br) on 2014-09-25T12:52:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_flcdomingos.pdf: 1366301 bytes, checksum: 72dc8a4377ef83fd57c007e63ded24ac (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Márcia Araújo(marcia_m_bezerra@yahoo.com.br) on 2014-09-25T15:12:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_flcdomingos.pdf: 1366301 bytes, checksum: 72dc8a4377ef83fd57c007e63ded24ac (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-09-25T15:12:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_flcdomingos.pdf: 1366301 bytes, checksum: 72dc8a4377ef83fd57c007e63ded24ac (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / The purpose of this study was to investigate if, and how, the metalinguistic knowledge of the phonological system of the English language affects the level of accuracy of the production of English vowel sounds by prospective teachers of English and how this knowledge enables them to monitor their own pronunciation. Specifically, the study attempted to: identify the problems English learners have when pronouncing vowel phonemes in English; investigate the level of perception the prospective teachers of English have concerning their own difficulties and problems in producing vowel sounds; analyze if the prospective teachers of English begin to more precisely identify their own problems/difficulties in the production of the vowel phonemes once they gain metalinguistic knowledge about the phonological system of English while taking the course English Language Phonology; and, finally, analyze if, and how, the metalinguistic learning of the phonological system of English helps learners to monitor their pronunciation in both controlled activities in the course English Segmental Phonology (focussing on the production of sounds) and less controlled activities in courses which focus on communicating messages, especially after a time gap between the instructed learning and spontaneous communicative production. This study is theoretically supported by McLaughlin’s Model of Information Processing (1983), Fledge’s Model of Speech Acquisition (1995), Best’s Perceptual Assimilation Model (1995), Krashen’s Monitor Hypothesis (1972), and other works which attempt to apply models of learning and of language acquisition to distance learning. In order to achieve the above mentioned objectives, portfolio activities recorded by 29 (twenty nine) prospective English teachers of the Distance English Teaching Certificate Program, at UFC-UAB, were collected while the learners were taking the following courses: English Segmental Phonology, which focuses on the production of sounds of the language, and English V: Oral Comprehension and Production, which focuses on communicating messages. An analysis of the recordings indicated: i) the most recurrent problems in the production of oral sounds result from the improper substitution of English sounds for Portuguese sounds, either because students don’t perceive their distinction or because they are influenced by the graphonemic spelling of word; ii) the students were able to perceive and correct their own pronunciation problems, which suggests that instruction on the phonological system of English allowed the students to activate and use self-monitoring strategies; iii) as the students learned about the phonology of English, they began to identify and correct their own pronunciation problems; and iv) after some time of having taken the Phonology Course, students were able to identify and correct their pronunciation problems, maintaining a 70% level of accuracy in the production of the oral sounds, even in activities which focus was not on the production of the sounds but on message communication. These results suggest that metalinguistic instruction on the phonological system of English can be helpful in the development of self-monitoring strategies and, therefore, optimize the production of oral sounds in a foreign language. The long-lasting effect of metalinguistic knowledge of phonology in the pronunciation of English can also be implied. / Esse trabalho teve por objetivo, investigar se, e de que maneira, o conhecimento metalinguístico do sistema fonológico da LI influi no nível de acurácia da produção dos sons vocálicos de professores de inglês em formação e como este conhecimento lhes possibilita a melhor monitorar sua pronúncia. Mais especificamente, buscávamos: identificar os problemas de produção dos sons vocálicos do inglês apresentados por aprendizes dessa língua; investigar o nível de percepção dos professores de inglês em formação acerca de seus problemas na produção dos sons vocálicos da LI; analisar se, à medida que os professores em formação adquirem conhecimento metalinguístico sobre o sistema fonológico da LI durante a disciplina Fonologia da Língua Inglesa, passaram a identificar com mais precisão seus problemas/dificuldades de pronúncia dos fonemas vocálicos; e, finalmente, analisar se, e de que forma, a aprendizagem metalinguística do sistema fonológico da LI auxiliaria esses professores em formação a monitorar sua pronúncia, tanto em atividades controladas durante a disciplina de Fonologia Segmental da Língua Inglesa (foco na produção dos sons) como em atividades mais livres em disciplinas subsequentes (foco na produção de mensagem), principalmente após decorrido um certo espaço de tempo entre a instrução explícita e a atividade de produção espontânea. Como base teórica para tais objetivos, usamos o modelo de processamento da informação de Barry McLaughlin (1983), o modelo de aprendizagem da fala (FLEGE, 1995) e o modelo de assimilação perceptual (BEST, 1995), a teoria do monitor de Krashen (1972), além de tentarmos relacionar esses conceitos aplicados ao EAD. Para alcance dos objetivos mencionados, coletamos e analisamos atividades de portfólio gravadas por 29 (vinte e nove) professores em formação do curso semipresencial de Letras/Inglês da UFC/UAB, durante as disciplinas de Fonologia Segmental da LI, com foco na produção de sons, e Língua Inglesa V-A: Compreensão e Produção Oral, com foco na produção de mensagem. Nossos resultados foram os seguintes: os problemas mais recorrentes em relação à produção oral dos sons vocálicos pelos professores em formação se referem à substituição imprópria de sons, seja pela não percepção de certos sons da LI que não existem no PB, seja pela influência grafo-fonêmica das palavras na pronúncia dos aprendizes; quanto ao nível de percepção dos aprendizes em relação aos seus problemas de pronúncia, podemos dizer que muitos desvios de produção oral foram percebidos e corrigidos de maneira a sugerir que o automonitoramento foi ativado pela instrução explícita; à medida que adquiriram conhecimento explícito em Fonologia, os professores em formação foram capazes de identificar e corrigir seus problemas de pronúncia; e, após decorrido certo tempo da instrução explícita, os participantes da pesquisa mantiveram um nível de 70% (setenta por cento) em acurácia na produção dos sons vocálicos da LI, quando o foco da atividade era a produção de mensagem e não somente de sons. Tais resultados nos levam a atestar a afirmação de que a instrução explícita em Fonologia pode auxiliar no desenvolvimento do automonitoramento, e assim, na otimização da produção oral. Além disso, também podemos sugerir que o efeito da instrução explícita na produção oral é durável.

Ce travail porte sur la phonologie des emprunts français non-anglicisés, c’est-à-dire qui ne suivent pas toutes les règles de l’anglais et conservent des caractéristiques françaises. Dans la première partie, nous décrivons la méthodologie employée pour la sélection du corpus, ce qui nous amène à étudier la terminologie utilisée dans la linguistique de l’emprunt, et présentons la base de données qui servira à l’analyse de ces emprunts. Dans la seconde partie, nous supprimons de cette base de données initiale toutes les variantes anglicisées, ce qui donne lieu à de nombreuses discussions sur la phonologie de l’anglais. Enfin, la dernière partie présente l’analyse de la base de données finale, ne contenant que des variantes non-anglicisées. En partant de l’idée que ces emprunts imitent la prononciation française, nous montrons comment les phonèmes français sont adaptés en anglais, et de quelle manière les locuteurs anglophones signalent l’origine française d’un mot. / This study focuses on the phonology of non-anglicized French loanwords, i.e. those which do not follow all English rules and retain French characteristics. The first part describes the methodology used for the selection of the corpus, which brings about discussions on loanword terminology, and presents the database that will be used in the analysis of these loanwords. The second part is dedicated to the deletion of the anglicized variants remaining in the database, which brings about many discussions on English phonology. Finally, the last part presents the analysis of the final database, containing only non-anglicized variants. Starting with the idea that these loanwords imitate the French pronunciation, we show how French phonemes are adapted into English, and how English speakers indicate the French origin of a word.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Esse trabalho teve por objetivo, investigar se, e de que maneira, o conhecimento metalinguÃstico do sistema fonolÃgico da LI influi no nÃvel de acurÃcia da produÃÃo dos sons vocÃlicos de professores de inglÃs em formaÃÃo e como este conhecimento lhes possibilita a melhor monitorar sua pronÃncia. Mais especificamente, buscÃvamos: identificar os problemas de produÃÃo dos sons vocÃlicos do inglÃs apresentados por aprendizes dessa lÃngua; investigar o nÃvel de percepÃÃo dos professores de inglÃs em formaÃÃo acerca de seus problemas na produÃÃo dos sons vocÃlicos da LI; analisar se, à medida que os professores em formaÃÃo adquirem conhecimento metalinguÃstico sobre o sistema fonolÃgico da LI durante a disciplina Fonologia da LÃngua Inglesa, passaram a identificar com mais precisÃo seus problemas/dificuldades de pronÃncia dos fonemas vocÃlicos; e, finalmente, analisar se, e de que forma, a aprendizagem metalinguÃstica do sistema fonolÃgico da LI auxiliaria esses professores em formaÃÃo a monitorar sua pronÃncia, tanto em atividades controladas durante a disciplina de Fonologia Segmental da LÃngua Inglesa (foco na produÃÃo dos sons) como em atividades mais livres em disciplinas subsequentes (foco na produÃÃo de mensagem), principalmente apÃs decorrido um certo espaÃo de tempo entre a instruÃÃo explÃcita e a atividade de produÃÃo espontÃnea. Como base teÃrica para tais objetivos, usamos o modelo de processamento da informaÃÃo de Barry McLaughlin (1983), o modelo de aprendizagem da fala (FLEGE, 1995) e o modelo de assimilaÃÃo perceptual (BEST, 1995), a teoria do monitor de Krashen (1972), alÃm de tentarmos relacionar esses conceitos aplicados ao EAD. Para alcance dos objetivos mencionados, coletamos e analisamos atividades de portfÃlio gravadas por 29 (vinte e nove) professores em formaÃÃo do curso semipresencial de Letras/InglÃs da UFC/UAB, durante as disciplinas de Fonologia Segmental da LI, com foco na produÃÃo de sons, e LÃngua Inglesa V-A: CompreensÃo e ProduÃÃo Oral, com foco na produÃÃo de mensagem. Nossos resultados foram os seguintes: os problemas mais recorrentes em relaÃÃo à produÃÃo oral dos sons vocÃlicos pelos professores em formaÃÃo se referem à substituiÃÃo imprÃpria de sons, seja pela nÃo percepÃÃo de certos sons da LI que nÃo existem no PB, seja pela influÃncia grafo-fonÃmica das palavras na pronÃncia dos aprendizes; quanto ao nÃvel de percepÃÃo dos aprendizes em relaÃÃo aos seus problemas de pronÃncia, podemos dizer que muitos desvios de produÃÃo oral foram percebidos e corrigidos de maneira a sugerir que o automonitoramento foi ativado pela instruÃÃo explÃcita; à medida que adquiriram conhecimento explÃcito em Fonologia, os professores em formaÃÃo foram capazes de identificar e corrigir seus problemas de pronÃncia; e, apÃs decorrido certo tempo da instruÃÃo explÃcita, os participantes da pesquisa mantiveram um nÃvel de 70% (setenta por cento) em acurÃcia na produÃÃo dos sons vocÃlicos da LI, quando o foco da atividade era a produÃÃo de mensagem e nÃo somente de sons. Tais resultados nos levam a atestar a afirmaÃÃo de que a instruÃÃo explÃcita em Fonologia pode auxiliar no desenvolvimento do automonitoramento, e assim, na otimizaÃÃo da produÃÃo oral. AlÃm disso, tambÃm podemos sugerir que o efeito da instruÃÃo explÃcita na produÃÃo oral à durÃvel. / Esse trabalho teve por objetivo, investigar se, e de que maneira, o conhecimento metalinguÃstico do sistema fonolÃgico da LI influi no nÃvel de acurÃcia da produÃÃo dos sons vocÃlicos de professores de inglÃs em formaÃÃo e como este conhecimento lhes possibilita a melhor monitorar sua pronÃncia. Mais especificamente, buscÃvamos: identificar os problemas de produÃÃo dos sons vocÃlicos do inglÃs apresentados por aprendizes dessa lÃngua; investigar o nÃvel de percepÃÃo dos professores de inglÃs em formaÃÃo acerca de seus problemas na produÃÃo dos sons vocÃlicos da LI; analisar se, à medida que os professores em formaÃÃo adquirem conhecimento metalinguÃstico sobre o sistema fonolÃgico da LI durante a disciplina Fonologia da LÃngua Inglesa, passaram a identificar com mais precisÃo seus problemas/dificuldades de pronÃncia dos fonemas vocÃlicos; e, finalmente, analisar se, e de que forma, a aprendizagem metalinguÃstica do sistema fonolÃgico da LI auxiliaria esses professores em formaÃÃo a monitorar sua pronÃncia, tanto em atividades controladas durante a disciplina de Fonologia Segmental da LÃngua Inglesa (foco na produÃÃo dos sons) como em atividades mais livres em disciplinas subsequentes (foco na produÃÃo de mensagem), principalmente apÃs decorrido um certo espaÃo de tempo entre a instruÃÃo explÃcita e a atividade de produÃÃo espontÃnea. Como base teÃrica para tais objetivos, usamos o modelo de processamento da informaÃÃo de Barry McLaughlin (1983), o modelo de aprendizagem da fala (FLEGE, 1995) e o modelo de assimilaÃÃo perceptual (BEST, 1995), a teoria do monitor de Krashen (1972), alÃm de tentarmos relacionar esses conceitos aplicados ao EAD. Para alcance dos objetivos mencionados, coletamos e analisamos atividades de portfÃlio gravadas por 29 (vinte e nove) professores em formaÃÃo do curso semipresencial de Letras/InglÃs da UFC/UAB, durante as disciplinas de Fonologia Segmental da LI, com foco na produÃÃo de sons, e LÃngua Inglesa V-A: CompreensÃo e ProduÃÃo Oral, com foco na produÃÃo de mensagem. Nossos resultados foram os seguintes: os problemas mais recorrentes em relaÃÃo à produÃÃo oral dos sons vocÃlicos pelos professores em formaÃÃo se referem à substituiÃÃo imprÃpria de sons, seja pela nÃo percepÃÃo de certos sons da LI que nÃo existem no PB, seja pela influÃncia grafo-fonÃmica das palavras na pronÃncia dos aprendizes; quanto ao nÃvel de percepÃÃo dos aprendizes em relaÃÃo aos seus problemas de pronÃncia, podemos dizer que muitos desvios de produÃÃo oral foram percebidos e corrigidos de maneira a sugerir que o automonitoramento foi ativado pela instruÃÃo explÃcita; à medida que adquiriram conhecimento explÃcito em Fonologia, os professores em formaÃÃo foram capazes de identificar e corrigir seus problemas de pronÃncia; e, apÃs decorrido certo tempo da instruÃÃo explÃcita, os participantes da pesquisa mantiveram um nÃvel de 70% (setenta por cento) em acurÃcia na produÃÃo dos sons vocÃlicos da LI, quando o foco da atividade era a produÃÃo de mensagem e nÃo somente de sons. Tais resultados nos levam a atestar a afirmaÃÃo de que a instruÃÃo explÃcita em Fonologia pode auxiliar no desenvolvimento do automonitoramento, e assim, na otimizaÃÃo da produÃÃo oral. AlÃm disso, tambÃm podemos sugerir que o efeito da instruÃÃo explÃcita na produÃÃo oral à durÃvel. / The purpose of this study was to investigate if, and how, the metalinguistic knowledge of the phonological system of the English language affects the level of accuracy of the production of English vowel sounds by prospective teachers of English and how this knowledge enables them to monitor their own pronunciation. Specifically, the study attempted to: identify the problems English learners have when pronouncing vowel phonemes in English; investigate the level of perception the prospective teachers of English have concerning their own difficulties and problems in producing vowel sounds; analyze if the prospective teachers of English begin to more precisely identify their own problems/difficulties in the production of the vowel phonemes once they gain metalinguistic knowledge about the phonological system of English while taking the course English Language Phonology; and, finally, analyze if, and how, the metalinguistic learning of the phonological system of English helps learners to monitor their pronunciation in both controlled activities in the course English Segmental Phonology (focussing on the production of sounds) and less controlled activities in courses which focus on communicating messages, especially after a time gap between the instructed learning and spontaneous communicative production. This study is theoretically supported by McLaughlinâs Model of Information Processing (1983), Fledgeâs Model of Speech Acquisition (1995), Bestâs Perceptual Assimilation Model (1995), Krashenâs Monitor Hypothesis (1972), and other works which attempt to apply models of learning and of language acquisition to distance learning. In order to achieve the above mentioned objectives, portfolio activities recorded by 29 (twenty nine) prospective English teachers of the Distance English Teaching Certificate Program, at UFC-UAB, were collected while the learners were taking the following courses: English Segmental Phonology, which focuses on the production of sounds of the language, and English V: Oral Comprehension and Production, which focuses on communicating messages. An analysis of the recordings indicated: i) the most recurrent problems in the production of oral sounds result from the improper substitution of English sounds for Portuguese sounds, either because students donât perceive their distinction or because they are influenced by the graphonemic spelling of word; ii) the students were able to perceive and correct their own pronunciation problems, which suggests that instruction on the phonological system of English allowed the students to activate and use self-monitoring strategies; iii) as the students learned about the phonology of English, they began to identify and correct their own pronunciation problems; and iv) after some time of having taken the Phonology Course, students were able to identify and correct their pronunciation problems, maintaining a 70% level of accuracy in the production of the oral sounds, even in activities which focus was not on the production of the sounds but on message communication. These results suggest that metalinguistic instruction on the phonological system of English can be helpful in the development of self-monitoring strategies and, therefore, optimize the production of oral sounds in a foreign language. The long-lasting effect of metalinguistic knowledge of phonology in the pronunciation of English can also be implied. / The purpose of this study was to investigate if, and how, the metalinguistic knowledge of the phonological system of the English language affects the level of accuracy of the production of English vowel sounds by prospective teachers of English and how this knowledge enables them to monitor their own pronunciation. Specifically, the study attempted to: identify the problems English learners have when pronouncing vowel phonemes in English; investigate the level of perception the prospective teachers of English have concerning their own difficulties and problems in producing vowel sounds; analyze if the prospective teachers of English begin to more precisely identify their own problems/difficulties in the production of the vowel phonemes once they gain metalinguistic knowledge about the phonological system of English while taking the course English Language Phonology; and, finally, analyze if, and how, the metalinguistic learning of the phonological system of English helps learners to monitor their pronunciation in both controlled activities in the course English Segmental Phonology (focussing on the production of sounds) and less controlled activities in courses which focus on communicating messages, especially after a time gap between the instructed learning and spontaneous communicative production. This study is theoretically supported by McLaughlinâs Model of Information Processing (1983), Fledgeâs Model of Speech Acquisition (1995), Bestâs Perceptual Assimilation Model (1995), Krashenâs Monitor Hypothesis (1972), and other works which attempt to apply models of learning and of language acquisition to distance learning. In order to achieve the above mentioned objectives, portfolio activities recorded by 29 (twenty nine) prospective English teachers of the Distance English Teaching Certificate Program, at UFC-UAB, were collected while the learners were taking the following courses: English Segmental Phonology, which focuses on the production of sounds of the language, and English V: Oral Comprehension and Production, which focuses on communicating messages. An analysis of the recordings indicated: i) the most recurrent problems in the production of oral sounds result from the improper substitution of English sounds for Portuguese sounds, either because students donât perceive their distinction or because they are influenced by the graphonemic spelling of word; ii) the students were able to perceive and correct their own pronunciation problems, which suggests that instruction on the phonological system of English allowed the students to activate and use self-monitoring strategies; iii) as the students learned about the phonology of English, they began to identify and correct their own pronunciation problems; and iv) after some time of having taken the Phonology Course, students were able to identify and correct their pronunciation problems, maintaining a 70% level of accuracy in the production of the oral sounds, even in activities which focus was not on the production of the sounds but on message communication. These results suggest that metalinguistic instruction on the phonological system of English can be helpful in the development of self-monitoring strategies and, therefore, optimize the production of oral sounds in a foreign language. The long-lasting effect of metalinguistic knowledge of phonology in the pronunciation of English can also be implied.

This thesis analyzes the phonological and morphological nativisation of English loans in the Tonga language. The contact situation between English and Tonga, in Zimbabwe, facilitates transference of lexical items between the two languages. From having been one of the most widely used languages of the world, English has developed into the most influential donor of words to other languages such as Tonga. The infiltration of English words into the Tonga lexical inventory led to the adoption and subsequent nativisation of English words by the native Tonga speakers. The main deposit of English words into Tonga is the direct interaction between English and Tonga speakers. However, it is sometimes via other languages like Shona, Ndebele, Venda and Shangani. In the 21st century, English’s contribution to the vocabulary of Tonga became more widely spread, now covering a large proportion of the Tonga language’s lexical inventory. The fact that English is the medium of instruction, in Zimbabwe, language of technology, education, media, new administration, health, music, new religion and economic transactions means that it is regarded as the high variety language with coercive loaning powers. Words from English are then adopted and nativised in the Tonga language, since Tonga asserts itself an independent language that can handle loans on its own. The main focus of this study therefore, is to try and account for the phonological and morphological behavior and changes that take place in English words that enter into Tonga. Analyzing phonological processes that are employed during nativisation of loan words entails analyzing how Tonga speakers handle aspects of English language such as diphthongs, triphthongs, cluster consonants, CVC syllable structure and sounds in repairing unacceptable sequences in Tonga. The research also accounts for the handling of morphological differences between the two languages. This entails looking at how competence and ordered-rule framework are harmonized by Tonga speakers in repairing conflicting features at morphological level. Since the two languages have different morphological patterns, the research analyzes the repairing strategies to handle singular and plural noun prefixes, tenses and particles, which are morphological components of words. The researcher appreciates that the native Tonga speakers have robust intuitions on the proper way to nativise words. / African Languages / D.Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 220-227). / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / xvi, 227 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

This thesis analyzes the phonological and morphological nativisation of English loans in the Tonga language. The contact situation between English and Tonga, in Zimbabwe, facilitates transference of lexical items between the two languages. From having been one of the most widely used languages of the world, English has developed into the most influential donor of words to other languages such as Tonga. The infiltration of English words into the Tonga lexical inventory led to the adoption and subsequent nativisation of English words by the native Tonga speakers. The main deposit of English words into Tonga is the direct interaction between English and Tonga speakers. However, it is sometimes via other languages like Shona, Ndebele, Venda and Shangani. In the 21st century, English’s contribution to the vocabulary of Tonga became more widely spread, now covering a large proportion of the Tonga language’s lexical inventory. The fact that English is the medium of instruction, in Zimbabwe, language of technology, education, media, new administration, health, music, new religion and economic transactions means that it is regarded as the high variety language with coercive loaning powers. Words from English are then adopted and nativised in the Tonga language, since Tonga asserts itself an independent language that can handle loans on its own. The main focus of this study therefore, is to try and account for the phonological and morphological behavior and changes that take place in English words that enter into Tonga. Analyzing phonological processes that are employed during nativisation of loan words entails analyzing how Tonga speakers handle aspects of English language such as diphthongs, triphthongs, cluster consonants, CVC syllable structure and sounds in repairing unacceptable sequences in Tonga. The research also accounts for the handling of morphological differences between the two languages. This entails looking at how competence and ordered-rule framework are harmonized by Tonga speakers in repairing conflicting features at morphological level. Since the two languages have different morphological patterns, the research analyzes the repairing strategies to handle singular and plural noun prefixes, tenses and particles, which are morphological components of words. The researcher appreciates that the native Tonga speakers have robust intuitions on the proper way to nativise words. / African Languages / D.Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)