30.710, Diss: Phonetics; Phonology: Georgios P. Georgiou: ''Perception and Production of Greek Vowels by Egyptian Arabic Learners of Greek as a Second Language''

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-30-710. Wed Feb 13 2019. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 30.710, Diss:  Phonetics; Phonology: Georgios P. Georgiou: ''Perception and Production of Greek Vowels by Egyptian Arabic Learners of Greek as a Second Language''

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Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:25:46
From: Georgios Georgiou [georgiou.georgos at hotmail.com]
Subject: Perception and Production of Greek Vowels by Egyptian Arabic Learners of Greek as a Second Language

 
Institution: University of Cyprus 
Program: Linguistics 
Dissertation Status: Completed 
Degree Date: 2018 

Author: Georgios P. Georgiou

Dissertation Title: Perception and Production of Greek Vowels by Egyptian
Arabic Learners of Greek as a Second Language 

Dissertation URL:  http://georgiougeorgios.weebly.com/publications.html

Linguistic Field(s): Phonetics
                     Phonology


Dissertation Director(s):
Charalambos Themistocleous

Dissertation Abstract:

The purpose of the thesis is the investigation of the perception and
production of the Cypriot Greek vowels by Egyptian Arab learners of Greek as a
second language (L2). The particular group of adult learners has been taught
Greek through formal education settings (schools, universities) living as well
permanently in a country where Greek is dominant. Moreover, the study aims to
show the effect of the pedagogical intervention (vowel instruction/training)
on the perception and production of the Greek vowels by the adult L2 learners.
The thesis employs the theoretical hypotheses of two models: the Speech
Learning Model (SLM) and the Perceptual Assimilation Model (PAM). The present
study constitutes the first cross-linguistic study which examines the
perception and production of Greek segments by learners with Arabic first
language (L1) background while the studies provided by the bibliography
regarding the acquisition of Greek segments for non-native speakers are
limited. The results showed an interference of the learners’ L1 in the L2
because it was detected a difficulty in the discrimination of the Greek
contrastive vowels /i/-/e/ (only in stressed position) and /ο/-/u/ as well as
inaccurate production for some Greek vowels as a result of phonological and
phonetic pattern transfer from one language to the other. Within the thesis,
it was identified that the relationship between perception and production was
not straightforward since the excellent perception of the L2 vowels did not
report a corresponding accurate production. Although PAM’s hypotheses are
based on naïve L2 learners, they were also confirmed for the experimental
group of this study, which consisted of experienced L2 learners. Moreover, SLM
managed to predict correctly the L2 vowel productions but it did not make
clear predictions about their perception. In parallel, the improvements that
were observed in both perception and production of the Greek vowels by the L2
learners after the implementation of vowel training and instruction, indicates
from the one hand the importance of the usage of such practices during the
learning of the L2 vowels and on the other hand it works supportively for the
possibility of the segment acquisition even by adult L2 learners. Linguistic
findings can be also interpreted on a pedagogical basis as they can be
employed for the preparation of the appropriate vowel training and
instruction, with emphasis on the particular vowels or vowel pairs that seemed
problematic regarding both perception and production. Since pedagogical
intervention reported a positive effect on the improvement of both perception
and production of the L2 vowels, it is recommended the implementation of
specific phonetic and phonological awareness exercises and activities in the
L2 curriculum in formal pedagogical settings.




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