John Benjamins Publishing Company
Variability in the use of weak forms of prepositions
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of phonological environment on variability in the production of the weak forms of four prepositions by advanced Brazilian speakers of English. Results of a VARBRUL analysis indicated that four phonological factors were exerting a significant effect: (a) the preposition itself; (b) whether or not there was a preceding syllable in the same intonation group; (c) the initial segment of the following word; (d) the metrical status of the following syllable. The relative amount of output by the speaker during the 30-minute recording also proved to have a significant effect. Since none of these factors appeared to be exerting a particularly powerful effect on its own, there may be some psycholinguistic factors also operating.
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of phonological environment on variability in the production of the weak forms of four prepositions by advanced Brazilian speakers of English. Results of a VARBRUL analysis indicated that four phonological factors were exerting a significant effect: (a) the preposition itself; (b) whether or not there was a preceding syllable in the same intonation group; (c) the initial segment of the following word; (d) the metrical status of the following syllable. The relative amount of output by the speaker during the 30-minute recording also proved to have a significant effect. Since none of these factors appeared to be exerting a particularly powerful effect on its own, there may be some psycholinguistic factors also operating.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Segmental-level studies: Vowels
- Adult phonetic learning of a second language vowel system 19
- The phonological and phonetic development of new vowel contrasts in Spanish learners of English 41
- Age and native language influence on the perception of English vowels 57
-
Part II. Syllable-level studies: Codas and onset clusters
- The influence of voicing and sonority relationships on the production of English final consonants 73
- Perception and production of vowel paragoge by Brazilian EFL students 91
- The sonority cycle and the acquisition of complex onsets 105
- The influence of voicing on the production of initial /s/-clusters by Brazilian learners 139
- Production of English initial /s/-clusters by speakers of Brazilian Portuguese and Argentine Spanish 155
-
Part III. Prosodic-level studies: Stress and rhythm
- Variability in the use of weak forms of prepositions 171
- Perception of double stress by Spanish learners of English 185
- The production of compound stress by Brazilian learners of English 199
- Author index 211
- Subject Index 213
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Segmental-level studies: Vowels
- Adult phonetic learning of a second language vowel system 19
- The phonological and phonetic development of new vowel contrasts in Spanish learners of English 41
- Age and native language influence on the perception of English vowels 57
-
Part II. Syllable-level studies: Codas and onset clusters
- The influence of voicing and sonority relationships on the production of English final consonants 73
- Perception and production of vowel paragoge by Brazilian EFL students 91
- The sonority cycle and the acquisition of complex onsets 105
- The influence of voicing on the production of initial /s/-clusters by Brazilian learners 139
- Production of English initial /s/-clusters by speakers of Brazilian Portuguese and Argentine Spanish 155
-
Part III. Prosodic-level studies: Stress and rhythm
- Variability in the use of weak forms of prepositions 171
- Perception of double stress by Spanish learners of English 185
- The production of compound stress by Brazilian learners of English 199
- Author index 211
- Subject Index 213
