Full metadata
Title
A VOT measurement of the pronunciation of word-initial /p/ by Libyan speakers of English
Description
ABSTRACT
The absence of the consonant sound /p/ in Libyan Arabic leads Libyan speakers of English to pronounce /p/ as /b/. This study examines how Libyan Arabic speakers distinguish the English /p/ and /b/ in their production of L2 English. The study also examines the effect of the production contexts and the learning environment on two groups of Libyan Arabic speakers' attainment of the English /p/ in the USA and Libya. The study collected voice recordings of word-initial /p/ and /b/ in isolated-words, minimal pairs, and sentences in English from both Libyan Arabic speakers and American English speakers. The study also collected Libyan Arabic stop consonants /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, and /g/ from the Libyan participants. The voice recording data were collected using the WhatsApp mobile application from all participants and the Libyan Arabic participants were also asked to fill an online survey. Using voice onset time (VOT) as a measurement tool, this study measured the English and Libyan Arabic data through Praat software. The findings show that most Libyan Arabic participants distinguish between /p/ and /b/, but they did not have as high VOT averages as the American participants' /p/. It also reveals that the production context, especially in minimal pairs and sentence contexts, has an effect on their participants' production. However, the learning environment does not have an effect on the Libyan participants' pronunciation of /p/ in this study.
The absence of the consonant sound /p/ in Libyan Arabic leads Libyan speakers of English to pronounce /p/ as /b/. This study examines how Libyan Arabic speakers distinguish the English /p/ and /b/ in their production of L2 English. The study also examines the effect of the production contexts and the learning environment on two groups of Libyan Arabic speakers' attainment of the English /p/ in the USA and Libya. The study collected voice recordings of word-initial /p/ and /b/ in isolated-words, minimal pairs, and sentences in English from both Libyan Arabic speakers and American English speakers. The study also collected Libyan Arabic stop consonants /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, and /g/ from the Libyan participants. The voice recording data were collected using the WhatsApp mobile application from all participants and the Libyan Arabic participants were also asked to fill an online survey. Using voice onset time (VOT) as a measurement tool, this study measured the English and Libyan Arabic data through Praat software. The findings show that most Libyan Arabic participants distinguish between /p/ and /b/, but they did not have as high VOT averages as the American participants' /p/. It also reveals that the production context, especially in minimal pairs and sentence contexts, has an effect on their participants' production. However, the learning environment does not have an effect on the Libyan participants' pronunciation of /p/ in this study.
Date Created
2014
Contributors
- Garib, Ali A. A (Author)
- Pruitt, Kathryn (Thesis advisor)
- Renaud, Claire (Committee member)
- González López, Verónica (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
- Linguistics
- Language
- English
- Libyan Speakers
- /p/
- Pronunciation
- Voice Onset Time
- VOT Measurement
- Second Language Acquisition
- Languages in contact
- English language--Pronunciation by foreign speakers.
- English language--Consonants.
- English language--Accents and accentuation.
- English language--Study and teaching--Arabic speakers.
- English language
- Arabic language--Libya.
- Arabic language
Resource Type
Extent
x, 86 p. : ill. (mostly col.)
Language
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.27413
Statement of Responsibility
by Ali A. A. Garib
Description Source
Retrieved on Feb. 18, 2015
Level of coding
full
Note
Partial requirement for: M.A., Arizona State University, 2014
Note type
thesis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-66)
Note type
bibliography
Field of study: English
System Created
- 2015-02-01 07:02:17
System Modified
- 2021-08-30 01:31:36
- 2 years 7 months ago
Additional Formats