A comparative study of intonation patterns in native and non-native speakers of English

Abstract

This thesis presents a comparative study of intonation patterns in non-native and native speakers of English. Non-native speakers of a language do not always grasp the subtleties of intonation patterns familiar to a native speaker. On the other hand, native speakers often subconsciously perceive intonational deviances in the performance of non-native speakers, and are sometimes led to attribute meanings not intended by the speaker. The thesis examines two aspects of intonation in particular. Firstly, whether non-native speakers of English have the same intonation patterns available to them when speaking English that native speakers do. Secondly, whether non-native speakers are consistent in their choice of particular intonation patterns, when compared with native speakers. The data collected for the research is analysed within two frameworks. A model of representation developed in Intonational Phonology is utilised to describe the phonology of intonation patterns used by nine native speakers of English and nine non-native speakers from three different language groups. A coding syste01 of conversation provides the parameter within which to classify the individual speech acts which make up each conversation. Differences between the native and non-native speaker data are identified both at the phonological and at the phonetic levels. Those at the phonological level arise mainly in the different organisation of tunes linked to particular speech acts. Attention is also drawn to significant differences between the native and non-native speaker groups in the less abstract, phonetic interpretations of intonation patterns. This is identified as a promising area for further research.