Ethnic divergence in Montreal English

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Boberg
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Social Self ◽  
Cultural Patterns ◽  
Ethnic Communities ◽  
Phonetic Variation ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Local Dominance ◽  
Immigrant Generations

AbstractThis article reports on a study of ethnic variation in the phonetics of Montreal English. The speech of 93 native speakers of Montreal English from three ethnic groups, British-Irish, Italian and Jewish, was recorded and subjected to acoustic analysis. Several statistically significant differences among the ethnic groups were identified. The present paper undertakes an apparent-time analysis of these differences, to see whether they are getting smaller over time, as might be expected under the assumption that post-immigrant generations gradually assimilate to the linguistic and cultural patterns of their adopted homelands. While Jewish Montrealers show some signs of convergence with the British-origin standard, Italians — especially young Italian men—appear to be diverging from that model. It is suggested that the unusual persistence and even intensification of ethno-phonetic variation in English-speaking Montreal reflects both the residential and social self-segregation of its ethnic communities and the local dominance of French.

scholarly journals Ethnicity and phonetic variation in Sheffield English liquids

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Kirkham
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
The Other ◽  
Smoothing Spline ◽  
British English ◽  
Phonetic Variation ◽  
Polarity Effect

This article reports a study of acoustic phonetic variation between ethnic groups in the realisation of the British English liquids /l/ and /ɹ/. Data are presented from ‘Anglo’ and ‘Asian’ native speakers of Sheffield English. Sheffield Anglo English is typically described as having ‘dark’ /l/, but there is some disagreement in the literature. British Asian speakers, on the other hand, are often described as producing much ‘clearer’ realisations of /l/, but the specific differences between varieties may vary by geographical location. Regression analysis of liquid steady states and Smoothing Spline ANOVAs of vocalic–liquid formant trajectories show consistent F2−F1 differences in /l/ between Anglo and Asian speakers in non-final contexts, which is suggestive of a strong distinction between varieties in terms of clearness/darkness. There is also evidence of a polarity effect in liquids, with differing relationships between liquid phonemes in each variety: Asian speakers produce /l/ with higher F2−F1 values than /ɹ/, and Anglo speakers produce /ɹ/ with higher F2−F1 values than /l/. The results are discussed in terms of phonetic variation in liquids and socioindexical factors in speech production.

The Concept of Wife in Russian and English Linguistic Consciousness

2020 ◽  
pp. 39-46
Author(s):  
Tat’yana V. Borisenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Mutual Understanding ◽  
Common Response ◽  
Assimilation Process ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
World Image

This paper aimed to study the content of the concept of wife in Russian and English-speaking linguocultures. The research will broaden the understanding of linguistic consciousness of Russian and English native speakers as well as identify some peculiarities of their world image. It is important to study the national world image today, as it can help to improve mutual understanding between cultures and simplify the assimilation process for those who decide to immigrate for some reason or other. The author utilized the methods of linguocultural and comparative analysis, as well as of associative-verbal nets study suggested by Yu.N. Karaulov. They include comparing associative-verbal nets by respondents’ first two reactions, identifying the most frequent types of answers, and grouping the responses into semantic zones. Further, the article analyses the synonymic chains of the word wife and explains the significance of this concept in Russian and English-speaking linguocultures, as well as identifies common semantic groups for the concept (wedding, household) and determines a common response to the stimulus in the two linguocultures. In addition, the paper traces differences in the perception of the concept of wife and singles out various semantic zones and their key elements. The research found that for many Russian native speakers, this concept contains such features as faith and belonging to someone, while in English linguistic consciousness it includes gender and partnership.

Specificity of Value Orientations of Native Speakers of French and Russian and Their Representation in Proverbs (Based on Dictionaries)

2020 ◽  
pp. 79-88
Author(s):  
Nataliya Yu. Nelyubova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
National Identity ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Mutual Influence ◽  
Value Orientations ◽  
Quantitative Composition ◽  
Russian Culture ◽  
Common Features ◽  
French Culture ◽  
Subjective Factor

This paper presents a linguo-axiological analysis of French and Russian proverbs based on identifying value orientations and creating their hierarchy by studying the names and quantitative dominance of various thematic groups in authentic paroemiological dictionaries. Identification of value orientations allows us to reveal both common features of ethnic groups, which are of interest in the era of globalization and mutual influence of languages and cultures, and specific ones, contributing to the preservation of national identity. The novelty of this research compared to the author’s previous studies lies in the use of two additional lexicographic sources (one French and one Russian). The examined material of the four dictionaries includes more than 30,000 proverbial units. The analysis revealed the presence of a large number of common topics (which can occupy different positions in the value hierarchy of the ethnic groups under study) not only in dictionaries of the same language, but in all four sources. The names of the categories and their quantitative composition allow us to define French culture as individualist, while Russian culture, as collectivist. When constructing a hierarchy, it is important to turn to a larger number of dictionaries and identify common proverbial units in them to avoid the influence of the subjective factor, which is the case when naming and forming categories, as well as of the researcher’s individual approach to the proportion of category names to their corresponding values. The expanding vocabulary and studies on evaluativity in proverbs aiming to identify value and anti-value components within various topics can be used for further research.

Study abroad and the SLA of variable structures: A look at the present perfect, the copula contrast, and the present progressive in Mexico and Spain

Probus ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Kanwit ◽  
Kimberly L. Geeslin ◽  
Stephen Fafulas
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
L2 Acquisition ◽  
Present Perfect ◽  
Immersion Programs ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Grammatical Structures

AbstractThe present study connects research on the L2 acquisition of variable structures to the ever-growing body of research on the role of study abroad in the language learning process. The data come from a group of 46 English-speaking learners of Spanish who participated in immersion programs in two distinct locations, Valencia, Spain and San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Simultaneously, we tested a group of native speakers from each region to create an appropriate target model for each learner group. Learners completed a written contextualized questionnaire at the beginning and end of their seven-week stay abroad. Our instrument examines three variable grammatical structures: (1) the copulas

scholarly journals The Speech Act of Complimenting as Part of the Ukrainian, Russian and English-Speaking Communities: Ukraine and the USA

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anzhelika Solodka ◽  
Luis Perea
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Personal Appearance ◽  
The Usa ◽  
On Line ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Language Context

Compliments as speech acts have the reflection and expression of cultural values. Many of the values reflected through compliments are personal appearance, new acquisitions, possessions, talents and skills. It is especially important in linguistic interaction between people. This research aims to analyze the speech acts of complimenting in Ukrainian and American cultures in order to use them for teaching pragmatics second language (L2) students. Defining the ways of complimenting in Ukrainian, Russian and American English help to avoid misunderstandings and pragmatic failures. This study uses a method of ethnomethodology. Speach acts are studied in their natural contexts. To carry out this research native speakers of English in the United States and native speakers of Russian and Ukrainian from all over Ukraine were interviewed on-line. The analysis was made on the data that included: 445 Russian, 231 Ukrainian and 245 English compliments. Results of this study show how native speakers tend to compliment people: syntactical structure of expressions, cultural lexicon, attributes praised and language context. It has implications for teaching English to Ukrainians and for teaching Russian and Ukrainian to speakers of English. Knowing how to use speech acts allows the speaker to have pragmatic competence. Upon completion of the data analysis on the current study, further information on deeper analysis in terms of semantics and metaphorical language can be provided.

scholarly journals Foreign Language Beliefs and Behaviors of English Speaking Communities’

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukma Nur Ardini
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Identity ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
The Other ◽  
Classroom Talk ◽  
Qualitative Design ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Descriptive Qualitative

The aim of this paper is to report the observation findings of foreign language beliefs and behaviors among three communities of English speaking communities’ specific of their cultural identity. The study used descriptive qualitative design since the author wants to describe the phenomenon happened in this study. Three English speaking communities were taken as the data; first, Krismit whatsApp group conversation; second, a private whatsApp conversation between two non-native speakers; third, a classroom talk. Those data were taken from the author’s cellphone, then the chats were exported, transcribed and analyzed well through their beliefs and behaviors specific of their cultural identity. The findings of the present study indicate that the awareness of using English pattern in two communities needs to be more highlighted, while the other community revealed the cultural matter in the form of expressions. Therefore, teachers’ and educators’ big effort in decreasing this issue is crucially needed.

scholarly journals ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENT ON VOWEL PRODUCTION OF ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE BY INDONESIAN EFL LEARNERS

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Rudha Widagsa ◽  
Ahmad Agung Yuwono Putro
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
First Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
British English ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
English Vowels ◽  
Second Formant

Indonesian is the most widely spoken language in Indonesia. More than 200 million people speak the language as a first language. However, acoustic study on Indonesian learners of English (ILE) production remains untouched. The purpose of this measurement is to examine the influence of first language (L1) on English vowels production as a second language (L2). Based on perceptual magnet hypothesis (PMH), ILE were predicted to produce close sounds to L1 English where the vowels are similar to Indonesian vowels. Acoustic analysis was conducted to measure the formant frequencies. This study involved five males of Indonesian speakers aged between 20-25 years old. The data of British English native speakers were taken from previous study by Hawkins & Midgley (2005). The result illustrates that the first formant frequencies (F1) which correlates to the vowel hight of Indonesian Learners of English were significantly different from the corresponding frequencies of British English vowels. Surprisingly, the significant differences in second formant (F2) of ILE were only in the production of /ɑ, ɒ, ɔ/ in which /ɑ/=p 0.002, /ɒ/ =p 0,001, /ɔ/ =p 0,03. The vowel space area of ILE was slightly less spacious than the native speakers. This study is expected to shed light in English language teaching particularly as a foreign language.Keywords: VSA, EFL, Indonesian learners, formant frequencies, acoustic

scholarly journals 'Real English' in Japan : team teachers' views on nativeness in language teaching

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Sutherland
Keyword(s):  
Team Teaching ◽  
English Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Teacher ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Interview Research ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Native English Speaking

In Japan, English is often taught by teams composed of a local Japanese teacher of English (JTE) and a native English speaking assistant English teacher (AET). This form of team teaching is typically assumed to be beneficial as it provides the students with exposure to models of native English which they would otherwise not encounter. Research has found that students and JTEs approve of team teaching as it provides students with motivation to study a language that would otherwise have little relevance to their daily lives. Less research has been done to explore how team teaching affects the JTEs with regards to their feelings about their own skills as English language users. In this paper, based on interview research with JTEs, I argue that team teaching reinforces the dichotomy between native and non-native speakers to the detriment of both Japanese teachers and their students.

English as an international language

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 28.1-28.16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Clyne ◽  
Farzad Sharifian
Keyword(s):  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Nonnative Speakers ◽  
Position Paper ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
International Language ◽  
The World ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Key Dimensions

In recent years, there has been a rapid evolution in the demographics of English speaking communities and individuals around the world, with an unprecedented growth in the number of users and learners of English. In the majority of cases, these learners and users are those who would traditionally have been classified as “non-native” speakers. This trend towards non-native speakers far outweighing native speakers in number is projected to pick up speed. The evolving nature of English in this context of its globalisation has called for a reassessment of a number of key dimensions in applied linguistic studies of English. Scholarly debates have surfaced about various political issues including the validity of the old distinction between “native” and “nonnative” speakers, what form English should – or is likely to – take as a language of international/intercultural communication (or lingua franca), and which groups are empowered and which ones disadvantaged by the accelerating prominence of English. Collectively, the essays in this issue of the journal engage with these issues in order to take the debate up to the next level. This article is a position paper which offers to open up the forum and to expand on some of some of these fundamental questions.

Out-Migration and Ethnic Communities

1983 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis E. Kobrin ◽  
Alden Speare
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Social Class ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Ethnic Community ◽  
Dense Network ◽  
Ethnic Communities ◽  
Chain Migration ◽  
Economic Ties

Comparative analysis of out-migration, based on a panel followed from 1968 to 1979, reveals substantial ethnic differentials. Part of the variation results from group compositional differences in social class and other characteristics normally related to migration, particularly age, education and local birth. Equally important, however, are indicators of social and economic bonds. These have been re-interpreted as mechanisms that promote ethnic cohesiveness. The results suggest that ethnic groups characterized by a dense network of social and economic ties do not sponsor out-migration, which has been the emphasis of many past studies of chain migration and migrant assimilation. Rather, they deter out-migration by providing alternative opportunities within the ethnic community.

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