Error Analysis of English Pronunciation Acquisition by Chinese Non-English Majors

Chinese non-English majors are a large group of English learners.In the process of English pronunciation acquisition,issues such as incomplete phonological knowledge,transfer of mother tongue,and overgeneralization,lead to confusion of phonemes and stress,misunderstanding of syllable structure,and errors of assimilation,drop,and epenthesis.The accuracy of English pronunciation can only be improved by knowing both English and Chinese phonological systems,strengthening the teaching of English phonological knowledge,and adopting various phonological training activities.

Self and Peer Evaluation in English Pronunciation Instruction

A case study was carried out to test the effects of self and peer evaluation in the process of English majors' English pro-nunciation teaching and learning. First-year English majors were directed to do self and peer evaluation, whose views on the evalu-ation experience were collected through individual talks and a questionnaire. The significant majority of subjects have found the re-flection helpful in promoting their English pronunciation learning and facilitating autonomy. However, problems rise with changesof teachers' roles in the class and their assessment on students' performance and learning progress.

A Review of the Research on English Pronunciation Self-concept

English pronunciation self-concept is a personal judgment based on pronunciation.It is English learners’self-perception as well as the judgment of their English pronunciation competence as well as pronunciation learning ability,which is formed as they develop their skills in pronunciation.A higher level of English pronunciation self-concept can promote students’self-assurance in foreign language learning.Through the analysis,this paper summarizes the scholars’studies about English pronunciation self-concept as follows:1)Formation and characteristics of English pronunciation self-concept;2)Relevance between English pronunciation self-concept as well as English learning.

Differences between English and Chinese Syllables and Its Inspiration on English Pronunciation Teaching

English and Chinese belong to different linguistic systems, so English and Chinese syllables, as the basic linguistic structure, own great differences in syllable structure, syllabification, syllable function as well as liaison. Chinese English learners are apt to have the negative transfer in English pronunciation acquisition under the influence of their mother tongue-Chinese. Therefore, only the repeated imitation and practice on the ground of theoretical contrasts and analyses can help learners speak perfect English.

The Current Situation of Chinese College Students' English Pronunciation

Nowadays, we can find the expression"dumb English"in newspapers and websites. The phrase exposes a situation that many Chinese college students, who earn high scores in English proficiency tests, such as CET-4, cannot speak fluent English. When they started to work after graduation, they cannot perform effective communication with foreigners verbally in many occasions. This paper aims to illustrate the current situation of Chinese college students' English pronunciation and analyze it in detail.

Moving English Pronunciation Teaching Approach Beyond Native-like Proficiency or Standard Models:International Mutual Intelligibility and Lingua Franca Core(LFC)

As English serves as an international language(or Lingua Franca),increasing attention is paid to English pedagogy of English as International Language(EIL).This essay maintains that international mutual intelligibility is a more practical and achievable goal in English pronunciation pedagogy,compared with native-like proficiency and various of standard English.Meanwhile,Jenkins(2000)’s Lingua Franca Core(LFC),a Phonological Core for EIL,is briefly introduced.

Negative Transfer of Shandong Dialect on English Pronunciation

Transfer theory holds that the differences between the mother tongue and target language have an impact on target lan-guage acquisition,pronunciation especially.Based on the theory,this paper aims to discuss the negative transfer of Shandong dia-lect on English pronunciation and to put forward suggestions for improvement.

Error Analysis of English Pronunciation of Non-English Majors

In English study,pronunciation not only influences daily communication,but also influences listening,reading and writ⁃ing ability.However,modern English education overly focuses on the uses of vocabularies and grammars,and it is short of the prac⁃tice of pronunciation.Therefore,English pronunciation errors become a common problem among non-English majors.The focus of this research is on analyzing the errors of English pronunciation through sampling thirty non-English majors in college.Based on error analysis theory,and with the assistance of pronunciation test,this study figured out several types of non-English majors’pro⁃nunciation errors in pronunciation,stress,tone and intonation these dimensions.

Common Problems in English Pronunciation Among Chinese Learners and Teaching Implications

In the process of learning any languages,pronunciation is an important part of language acquisition because pronunciation may influence a listener’s comprehension of one’s expression.An example is the classical mistake of pronouncing“sink”and“think.”Because Germans cannot pronounce/s/,the rescue worker cannot understand why a man who is“thinking”needs help.In China,English learners are also facing the problems of pronunciation.Gimson,a famous professor of linguistics in Britain,pointed out that when learning a language,one should understand 50%-90%of its grammar and 1%of its vocabulary,but it is necessary to fully master the pronunciation,thus highlighting the importance of pronunciation.[1]However,pronunciation is a difficult part of a second language acquisition.This article analyzes the problems of pronunciation and discuss some methods on how to resolve them.

后RP时代语音教学标准及教学重点——从English After RP:Standard British Pronunciation Today(2019)谈起

世界英语背景下本族语标准不断受到挑战,一线教学面临诸多迷惑。English After RP:Standard British Pronunciation Today(Lindsey 2019)一书指出RP在英国已经死亡,这要求外语教学界回应语音教学中的两个突出问题:应采用何种语音标准来教授?该标准对现有课程框架的教学内容及教学重点将产生怎样的影响?中国及世界英语教学理论与实践的研究表明,以传播中国,沟通世界为目的的中国外语教学,应该理性地选择世界范围内认可度最高的规范作为教授标准,并与时俱进,更新教学内容;从评价输出角度来说,应转变教学理念,聚焦信息交流的可理解度,将教学重点转向韵律。师生均需拓宽视野,培养世界胸怀,培养国际交流中对待地域及社会变体的积极的语言态度。

Research on the Reform of Pronunciation Teaching in Business English Major

Traditionally, English pronunciation teaching in universities in China is always focused on the theoretical teaching in classroom, which cannot meet the requirements of society. At the same time, the new national standard of business English major puts forward higher demands of the educational objectives of the course. In order to adapt to the reform of business English major, university teachers of English pronunciation course should be active in promoting the curriculum reform. This paper proposes to make suggestions to change the traditional theory teaching of classroom and to improve the students＇ practical skills by training.

IMPROVING ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION AND INTONATION TEACHING IN CHINA

In terms of creativity, variety, and success in a pronunciation and intonation practice class are concerned, this paper has laid great emphasis on the creation of a relaxed classroom atmosphere based on friendly and cooperative relationships. Based on a few of the ideas that result from second language acquisition research and that have implications for pronunciation and intonation practice class, this paper has suggested some communicative classroom techniques which contribute to desired learning outcomes.

The Intelligibility of Thai Speakers’ Pronunciation from Chinese Listeners’ Perspective

The intelligibility of Thai speakers’English pronunciation from Chinese listeners’perspectives have not been analyzed deeply in current researches.As is known to all,the interconnection between China and Thailand is greatly developed with the sup⁃port of‘One Belt and One Road initiative’.However,it is inevitable for non-native English speakers to encounter some pronuncia⁃tion problems,which would affect them to communicate with each other.As for Chinese English learners,Thai accent to some ex⁃tent would be a great challenge during the conversation with Thai speakers.In order to promote a better communication,it is neces⁃sary to analyze the origin of Thai speakers’English pronunciation problems.Therefore,this research based on the previous studies to categorize the common pronunciation problems among Thai speakers.However,there are numerous English learners in Thailand that have various language proficiency.In this respect,two Thai speakers with different IELTS scores have been selected for com⁃parison,and six postgraduate students in the Education University of Hong Kong are invited to serve as a listener.As a result,this research will base on the listeners’feedback to highlight some suggestions to enhance the intelligibility of Thai speakers’pronun⁃ciation.

THE TEACHING OF PRONUNCIATION TO CHINESE LEARNERS OF ENGLISH

English pronunciation is being unduly neglected or even ignored in some of our colleges anduniversities.Its role and necessity are not yet generally realized,and English phonetic courses areusually left to chance or given no place in our teaching or learning.The result is as Baker(1982,pl)states:‘advanced students find that they can improve all aspects of their proficiency in English excepttheir pronunciation,and mistakes which have been repeated for years are impossible to eradicate.’The long-term solution to this problem,I would suggest,is to have a compulsory phonetic coursebccause an active command of pronunciation will help promote the entire learning process.