scholarly journals The Double-Edged Sword of RP: the Contrasting Roles of a Pronunciation Model in both Native and Non-native Environments

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miroslav Ježek
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Social ◽  
Late Twentieth ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Received Pronunciation ◽  
The Given

Received Pronunciation (RP) is often studied as the pronunciation model in Great Britain and non-English-speaking countries separately. What my paper focuses on is the duality with which RP is essentially endowed: the role(s) in which it has to satisfy the needs of both native and non-native speakers of English. Whilst the claim that RP has changed recently goes unchallenged, the issue of reflecting these changes in the preferred transcription models is hotly debated. Upton’s model of RP is one that does include several new symbols, motivated by an attempt to ‘ensure that the description of a late twentieth century version the accent […] looks forward to the new millennium rather than back at increasingly outmoded forms’ (2001:352). I discuss the feasibility of adopting Upton’s model of RP as the pronunciation model in non-English speaking countries, where it is desirable to resolve the paradox that ‘most of our teaching is aimed at young people, but the model we provide is that of middle-aged or old speakers’ (Roach 2005: 394). The observations I make are largely based on my MA research, which is now being modified for the purposes of my Ph.D. I asked undergraduate students of English in England and the Czech Republic to evaluate seven voices ranging from the clearly regional to the unquestionably RP. The objective was to discover which sounds are considered to fall within the scope of RP by students in both countries, which approach avoids treating RP as though it were to include only the sounds ‘allowed by a preconceived model’ (Upton 2000: 78). Further, the respondents were asked to comment on the most salient features in the recordings: what they opted to comment on reveals a marked difference in the role of RP as a model accent in the given countries. Societies which lack a prestigious non-regional accent are often oblivious to the social connotations RP carries. Whilst it seems technically impossible to replace the model accent in all teaching materials all over the world, creating awareness of the fact that a rather outmoded model of RP found in many textbooks may not always be the best option is a necessary step towards ensuring that non-English speaking students are not only understood but that their speech will attract no adverse judgements.

TEACHING AND LEARNING ENGLISH AS A GLOBAL LANGUAGE: NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE PERSPECTIVES. Claus Gnutzmann (Ed.). Tüumbingen, Germany: Stauffenburg Verlag, 2000. Pp. 312. DM 96, cloth.

2002 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-131
Author(s):  
Margie Berns
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Native Language ◽  
Research Perspectives ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Global Language ◽  
Learning English

This collection originated from a conference held in Braunschweig, Germany, in June 1998 at which participants were invited to analyze the role of English as a global language and to develop research perspectives for its teaching and learning. Written by nonnative as well as native speakers of English (working in English-speaking countries where English is not a native language), the articles provide a basis for consideration of whether “the concept of English as a global language is assessed differently by experts depending upon whether they are native or non-native speakers of English and if so, to what extent” (Introduction).

scholarly journals Studying individual differences in the social environment to better understand language learning and processing

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (s1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiri Lev-Ari
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Linguistic Performance ◽  
The Social

AbstractPeople learn language from their social environment. Therefore, individual differences in the input that their social environment provides could influence their linguistic performance. Nevertheless, investigation of the role of individual differences in input on performance has been mostly restricted to first and second language acquisition. In this paper I argue that individual differences in input can influence linguistic performance even in adult native speakers. Specifically, differences in input can affect performance by influencing people’s knowledgebase, by modulating their processing manner, and by shaping expectations. Therefore, studying the role that individual differences in input play can improve our understanding of how language is learned, processed and represented.

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 Lak proverbs with the religious code of culture

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Abakarova
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Analysis ◽  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Social ◽  
Present Participle ◽  
Cultural Code ◽  
Positive Traits ◽  
The Given ◽  
Syntactical Analysis

The article analyzes Lak proverbs with the religious cultural code. The research was based on the descriptive method, syntactical analysis, morphological analysis and cognitive analysis. The proverbs collected from 3 books of Lak proverbs were analyzed from the point of view of semantics, axiological connotations, syntax and morphology. Semantic analysis revealed 6 groups of lexemes: (1) denominations of people; (2) words related to religious pillars and rituals; (3) words related to holy scriptures, religious attributes and terms; (4) words denoting death and afterlife; (5) words denoting commendable religious acts and notions; (6) words denoting sin and punishment. In the course of the axiological analysis there have been defined proverbs with positive evaluation of a person and proverbs with negative characteristics of a person. Positive traits include honesty, piety, decency, erudition and diligence, while negative ones include insulation, indecency, hypocrisy and negligence in the religious worship. Syntactical analysis of the Lak proverbs has revealed the presence of adverbs of asyndetic structure within which there have been established adversative, concessive and comparative relations, as well as of proverbs with copulative and disjunctive conjunctions. Some of the proverbs are based on the principle of alogism. Morphological analysis of the proverbs has revealed the most frequent grammatical tense, the Present Affirmative Tense, which is formed by means of adding the affix -r to the present participle. The Present Affirmative Tense in the Lak language denotes an action as an attribute of the subject which explains the fact of usage of this tense in proverbs that summarize the social experience of the native speakers. Lak proverbs with the given code have not been researched earlier that makes this study relevant.

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 Comparative Study of the Perception of the Role of a Social Worker in Hospitals in the Czech Republic and Slovakia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
P. Laca ◽  
s. Laca
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Slovak Republic ◽  
University Education ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Social

This research study is focused on the perception of the role of asocial worker by hospital nurses in the Czech and Slovak Re- public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim of the study:The main aim of the research study was to find the opinions of nurses from the Czech and Slovak Repub- lic on asocial worker who works in ahospital during acoron- avirus - COVID-19 pandemic and then compare their opinions in helping patients Research sample and setting:The research sample of the study consisted of 75 nurses with higher professional education (Czech Republic), university education of the first and second degree (Czech Republic, Slovak Republic), who were together with social workers in the front line in hospitals at the time of the coronavirus pandemic COVID-19. All participating respon- dents were informed about the purpose of the research study and the completion of the online questionnaire. Statistical analysis:The mathematical-statistical method chi- square test of the independence of the criteria of individual re- search hypotheses was used to compare the interviewed re- spondents in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Results of the study:Medical staff at the time of the COVID- 19 pandemic was satisfied with the social worker, as evidenced by the research study and their answers in the questionnaire survey. It is clear from the results of the research survey that the participants perceived the social worker positively during the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Social Exclusion and Inclusion in the Czech Republic and in South Africa: Comparison and Facts

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 37-46
Author(s):  
Klára Brožovičová
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of ◽  
Totalitarian Regimes ◽  
The Given

Abstract The article’s aim is to compare the opposite processes of social exclusion and inclusion in South Africa and in the Czech Republic, in the past and at the present time. Even though these societies differ culturally and geographically, the comparison of some important factors, which are causing the exclusion of some people groups, might be interesting. In both cases we will closely follow the social, ethnic and racial groups, which are mostly excluded in the given environment. In South Africa it concerns Black and Coloured Africans, and in the Czech Republic the Roma ethnic minority group, the only ethnic group which is to a high extent excluded. In the history of these two countries we can find a similar historic aspect, both of them had experienced totalitarian regimes. Today, with the benefit of more twenty years, we can see the changes, which both these countries have undergone, and observe as well how these changes influenced the processes of inclusion and exclusion of the given social, racial and ethnic groups.

scholarly journals Do Women Affect the Final Decision on the Housing Market? A Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4652
Author(s):  
Sabina Źróbek ◽  
Elżbieta Zysk ◽  
Mirosław Bełej ◽  
Natalija Lepkova
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Housing Market ◽  
Final Decision ◽  
Territorial Unit ◽  
The Social ◽  
Joint Decisions ◽  
Gradual Introduction ◽  
Decision Making Model ◽  
The Given

This article presents the results of research on the effect of the customer’s gender on the tenure choice (ownership or tenancy) on the housing market. In the study, an attempt has been made to investigate whether there is a significant role of women in making decisions in this market. The survey was conducted among residents of two cities—Olsztyn (Poland) and Vilnius (Lithuania). The obtained answers were subjected to a multi-dimensional categorical and quantitative analysis. The results showed, among others, that women generally have greater decision-making autonomy in residential issues than men, with Lithuanian women doing this much more often than Polish women. However, it should be noted that the dominant decision-making model in the housing market is the model of joint decisions taken by men and women. The results of the conducted analysis broaden the existing knowledge of the functioning of the housing market and may support the implementation of the pro-social and pro-sustainable spatial development policy of the given territorial unit. The results may also contribute to more sustainable development of enterprises in the housing construction sector. This is an important issue in a climate of intense competition between “providers” of flats and the gradual introduction of the idea of competition between them and the social environment.

scholarly journals Linguistic Markers and Stylistic Attributes of Hedging in English Academic Papers Written by Native and Non-Native Speakers of English

MANUSYA ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Amara Prasithrathsint
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Linguistic Markers ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
English Academic Writing ◽  
The Impact

Hedging means mitigating words so as to lessen the impact of an utterance. It may cause uncertainty in language but is regarded as an important feature in English academic writing. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the style of academic writing in English with particular reference to the significant role of hedging and the linguistic features that mark it. The data was taken from academic articles in the humanities written by native speakers of English, Filipino speakers of English, and Thai speakers of English. It is hypothesized that speakers of English as a foreign language use fewer and different hedging devices than native speakers of English. The result of the analysis shows that the prominent linguistic markers of hedging are the auxiliaries may, might, could, the verbs suggest, appear, seem, and the adverbs perhaps and often. They are divided into three groups according to their stylistic attributes of hedging; namely, probability, indetermination, and approximation. The use of hedging found in the data confirms what Hyman (1994) says; i.e., that hedging allows writers to express their uncertainty about the truth of their statements. It is also found that English native speakers use hedges most frequently. The Filipino speakers of English are the second, and the Thai speakers of English use hedges the least frequency. This implies that hedging is likely to be related to the level of competence in English including knowledge of stylistic variation, and that it needs to be formally taught to those who speak English as a second or foreign language.

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