Comparing the Intelligibility of Different Varieties of English Through Predicting Learners Comprehension: A Phonetic Experimental Approach
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Chao Wu
Chao WU is currently an associate professor of English (applied linguistic) at Department of Foreign Language of Nanchang Business College (NCBC), Jiangxi Agricultural University. His research efforts are focused on speech production and perception, L2 pronunciation and intelligibility, L2 oral assessment and testing.
Fang GAO is currently a lecturer of English at Department of Foreign Language of Nanchang Business College (NCBC), Jiangxi Agricultural University. Her research efforts are focused on English language teaching and English Language testing.
Abstract
In this paper, we focus on the need for measuring the intelligibility of English pronunciation using an automated speech system, and the system proceeded in this feasibility study was tested with 18 speakers coming from six countries representing six types of English (China, Vietnam, Egypt, India, South Africa and the Philippines). Those test candidates were selected carefully to stand for a series of intelligibility, two different approaches, transcription and nonsense, were utilized to test and measure their intelligibility. An automated computer pattern developed for speaking proficiency scoring based on suprasegmental measures was set to predict intelligibility scores. The Pearson’s correlation was 0.743 for transcription construct and 0.819 for the nonsense construct between the human assessed and computer predicted scores. The reliable inter-rater Cronbach’s alpha for the transcription scores was 0.943 and 0.945 for the nonsense intelligibility scores. Basing on the type of intelligibility measure, the computer utilized different suprasegmental measures to predict the score. The computer used 11 measures for the nonsense intelligibility score and eight for the transcription score. Only two features were common to both constructs. These analyses and results of this computer experimental pattern can provide researchers of L2 different perspectives of measuring intelligibility in research afterwards.
About the authors
Chao WU is currently an associate professor of English (applied linguistic) at Department of Foreign Language of Nanchang Business College (NCBC), Jiangxi Agricultural University. His research efforts are focused on speech production and perception, L2 pronunciation and intelligibility, L2 oral assessment and testing.
Fang GAO is currently a lecturer of English at Department of Foreign Language of Nanchang Business College (NCBC), Jiangxi Agricultural University. Her research efforts are focused on English language teaching and English Language testing.
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Acknowledgments
This paper was supported by an academic project entitled “World Language and Cultural Research” (2022) granted by China Foreign Language Strategy Research Center.
© 2023 FLTRP, Walter de Gruyter, Cultural and Education Section British Embassy
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Speech Intelligibility
- Does the Functional Load Principle Predict How Important Phonemic Contrasts Are to Intelligibility Among ELF Users? A Partial Replication of Munro and Derwing (2006) From an ELF Perspective
- Comparing the Intelligibility of Different Varieties of English Through Predicting Learners Comprehension: A Phonetic Experimental Approach
- Second Language Acquisition
- Dialogic Learner and Identity Changes in the English Majors at a University for Liberal Arts
- Going for -ing or -en? A Puzzle about Adjectival Participles for Learners of English
- Study of High-Proficiency Chinese EFL Learners’ Strategy Applications in Constructive Feedback
- Language Teaching
- An Exploratory Study of Students’ and Teachers’ Perceptions of Language-Literature Integration in Secondary EFL Education
- An Exploration of Learning Satisfaction and Problems on Synchronous Online Teaching Mode in an English Comprehensive Reading Course During the COVID-19 Epidemic Period
- Second Language Writing
- Student Engagement With Peer Feedback in L2 Writing: A Multiple Case Study of Chinese Secondary School Students
- Book Review
- Review on Languaging in Language Learning and Teaching: A Collection of Empirical Studies
- Abstracts
- Chinese Abstracts
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Speech Intelligibility
- Does the Functional Load Principle Predict How Important Phonemic Contrasts Are to Intelligibility Among ELF Users? A Partial Replication of Munro and Derwing (2006) From an ELF Perspective
- Comparing the Intelligibility of Different Varieties of English Through Predicting Learners Comprehension: A Phonetic Experimental Approach
- Second Language Acquisition
- Dialogic Learner and Identity Changes in the English Majors at a University for Liberal Arts
- Going for -ing or -en? A Puzzle about Adjectival Participles for Learners of English
- Study of High-Proficiency Chinese EFL Learners’ Strategy Applications in Constructive Feedback
- Language Teaching
- An Exploratory Study of Students’ and Teachers’ Perceptions of Language-Literature Integration in Secondary EFL Education
- An Exploration of Learning Satisfaction and Problems on Synchronous Online Teaching Mode in an English Comprehensive Reading Course During the COVID-19 Epidemic Period
- Second Language Writing
- Student Engagement With Peer Feedback in L2 Writing: A Multiple Case Study of Chinese Secondary School Students
- Book Review
- Review on Languaging in Language Learning and Teaching: A Collection of Empirical Studies
- Abstracts
- Chinese Abstracts
