Pronunciation intelligibility in Brazilian learners’ English and listeners’ threshold
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26512/rhla.v16i2.7429Keywords:
pronunciation intelligibility. listeners’ threshold. Brazilian learnersAbstract
This article focuses on issues related to the role played by the listeners as evaluators of L2 learners’ pronunciation intelligibility. First, I discuss listeners’ threshold of intelligibility and listener variables. Linguistic and non-linguistic variables are identified. Then, I report on the qualitative results of an experimental study, whose listeners’ thresholds influenced their evaluations about the intelligibility of Brazilian learners’ pronunciation. Finally, I conclude with implications of the present discussion for future pronunciation intelligibility studies involving Brazilians learners’ English.
Keywords: pronunciation intelligibility. listeners’ threshold. Brazilian learners.
Resumo
Este artigo focaliza aspectos relacionados aos ouvintes que atuam como avaliadores da inteligibilidade da pronúncia de aprendizes de uma língua estrangeira. Primeiro, o limiar de inteligibilidade de ouvintes e suas variáveis são discutidas. Variáveis linguísticas e não linguísticas são identificadas. Em seguida, resultados qualitativos de um estudo experimental, cujo limiar de inteligibilidade dos ouvintes influenciou suas avaliações da inteligibilidade da pronúncia de aprendizes brasileiros de inglês, são relatados. Finalmente, as implicações da presente discussão para estudos em inteligibilidade de pronúncia envolvendo aprendizes brasileiros de inglês são apresentadas.
Palavras-chave: inteligibilidade de pronúncia. limiar do ouvinte. aprendizes brasileiros.
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