Is listening to the English CD and recording my English effective to improve my pronunciation?
Graduation Thesis
Presented to
the Faculty of the Department of
English Language and Literature
Notre Dame Seishin University
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirement for the Degree
Bachelor of Arts
by
Yuri Suzuki
2018
Contents
Chapter 1Background to Pronunciation
1.1 Introduction
1.2. Pronunciation
1.2.1 Phonemes- Consonants and vowels
1.2.3 Intonation
1.2.4 Pitch
1.2.5 Accent
1.2.6 Rhythm
1.2.7 Punctuation of syllable
1.3 Change of pronunciation
1.3.1 Linking
1.3.2 Elision
1.3.3 Assimilation
1.3.3.1 Voiced sound
1.3.3.2 Unvoiced sound
1.4 Improving pronunciation by reading aloud
1.4.1 Background
1.4.2 Advantages and disadvantages
1.4.3 Methods
1.4.3.1.Introduction
1.4.3.2Shadowing
1.4.3.3 Overlapping
1.4.3.4 Repeating
1.5 Previous research on the benefits of reading aloud on pronunciation
1.5.1 Kawai (2012)
1.6 Research Questions
1.7 Conclusion
Chapter 2: The Data
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The experiment / questionnaire
2.2.1 Introduction to the experiment
2.2.2 Method of experiment
2.2.3 Results of questionnaires
2.2.4Results of experiment
2.3 Summary
Chapter 3: The Analysis
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Summary of the results
3.2 Discussion of the results
3.3 Research questions
3.4 Implications
3.5. Limitations of the Experiments
3.6. Further research
3.7 Conclusion
Abstract
This thesis is about the way to improve English pronunciation for Japanese English learners. Itisresearchedthe features of English pronunciation,ways to improve pronunciation like reading aloud.
The aim was to find out if listening to the English CDs and recording our English is effective for improvingourpronunciation?
The thesislooked at howsome people who practicedtheir pronunciation and the ways they recommend to record their voice and listen to it again and again so they can improve their pronunciation. They said this way was more effective for people to improve English pronunciation skill, because itcan makeusnotice our weak point in English pronunciation. They said people can correct their incorrect Englishpronunciation by comparing it with theirown English and the correct English they listen to.
Theexperiment showedthatrecording our own English and listening to it is effective as judged by other students who learn English. Also, this way is effective, because itmakesusnoticeourweak point and become aware of the correct English pronunciation, and wecanpay attention to it so we can move towards speaking like native speaker. It is important to imitate the intonation or speed like native speaker from English CD.
Therefore, listening to the English CDs and recording our own English is effective to improve my pronunciation.
1
Chapter 1Background to Pronunciation
1.1 Introduction
Today, most Japanese students learn English as a second language at school, because now the world is becoming more internationalized and the need for communication with foreigners in English is greater.
However, people who have learned English can understand that it is very difficult to communicate theirthoughtsinEnglish. Because of the insufficient training in pronunciation, Japanese people often don’t make themselves understood and can’t continue the conversation with foreigners.
People generally have many opportunities to make contact with English through radio, TV, and talking with native speakers, but actually, people have little need to use English in their daily life in Japan. So, English is mainly studied in a classroom and it is centered on the textbook. Therefore,English study inJapanhas more writing than speaking.
To understand spoken English and to communicate ideasinEnglish, naturally enough, people have to learn English pronunciation and have to try to be close to the pronunciation of English native speakers as much as possible.
When we consider pronunciation, there are vowel sounds, consonants, sound connection, a sound change, rhythm, stress, and intonation. It is thought that it is the most important to learn theseto master the pronunciation to be understood by native speakers. If we acquire good pronunciation, we can communicate in English smoothly. We can also understand the speaker’s feelings and true meaning. So, does practicing pronunciation improve our ability?
1.2. Pronunciation
What are the main features of pronunciation? There are several aspects of pronunciation. In order to study how something works it is often useful to break it down into its constituent parts. The following diagram shows a breakdown of the main features of pronunciation. In the next section we will look at each aspect in detail.
1.2.1 Phonemes- Consonants and vowels
Phonemes don’t have specific meanings, however, they are the set of the smallest unitsof speech in a language that distinguish one word from another. For example, the word pat has the phonemes /pæt/. If we change the middle phoneme, we get /put/ put, a different word. If we pronounce /p/ in a slightly different way, the word doesn’t change, and we still understand that we mean the same thing. There are many more phonemes in English than in Japanese. English has 20 vowel sounds and 24 consonants or 44 phonemes. ( /iː/, /ɪ/, /e/, /æ/, /ʌ/, /ɑː/, /ɒ/, /ɔː/, /ʊ/, /uː/, /ɜː/, /ə/, /eɪ/, /aɪ/, /ɔɪ/, /əʊ/, /aʊ, ɑʊ/, /ɪə/, /eə/, /ʊə/; /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, /ʧ/, /ʤ/, /f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /h/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/, /r/, /w/, /j/) Compared with this, Japanese has 5 vowel sounds, 16 consonants, and 3 special phonemes making 24 phonemes. (/a/, /i/, /u/, /e/, /o/; /j/, /w/; /k/, /s/, /c/, /t/, /n/, /h/, /m/, /r/, /g/, /ŋ/, /z/, /d/, /b/, /p/; /N/, /T/, /R/) Therefore, many Japanese people feel that it’s difficult to pronounce the English words. The set of phonemes consists of two categories: vowel sounds and consonants we are familiar with in the alphabet. We make sounds with only vowel sounds or one consonants + one vowel.
1.2.3Intonation
Japanese has a little intonation, so Japanese people can speak flat, but English has a lot of intonation. The intonation of voice is a fundamental element in pronunciation to communicate the meaning of a sentence exactly and well. If we make a mistake how to use the intonation, the meaning of sentence can change. In this way, the intonation in sentences expresses the meaning or emotion of sentence by changingsounds low and high in the middle or at the end of the sentence. There are two kinds of intonation to raise the pitch or lower the pitch. To raise the pitch is pronounced with higher sounds at the end of a sentence, for example, interrogative sentence like Do you have a pen? On the other hand, lower pitch is pronounced flat without high sounds, for example, in a declarative sentence like I have a pen.
1.2.4 Pitch
Pitch is relative loudnessthat is high and low in languages sounds when people speak languages. Pitch is important to represent the intonation of sentences like accent and stress.For example, if people are surprised at anything, they raise their voice,forexample, “REALLY?I’mSOSURPRISEDit,” witha shifting hightone.
1.2.5 Accent
Accent is one way of emphasizing the stress in words. We describe the point in a word or phrase where pitch changes, vowels lengthen, and volume increase. The greater the pitch change, the more English speakershave the strong accent. If one position is heard more remarkably than another position, it is said to have a stress, or an accent. For example, the word labelhasstrong pitch on the [ei]. Watanabe (2014) says that accent consists 3 elements, which is pitch change, duration, and intensity in order of importance.
The position of the accent can represent the parts of speech like verb, noun, and the meaning. The verb often has a stress in the first syllable, for example, the verb increase is pronounced inCREase [inkrí:s]. The noun has a stress in the second syllable and increase is pronounced INcrease [ínkri:s].
1.2.6 Rhythm and stress timed-language
English also has rhythm. Rhythm is made from accent, regular part, pitch, and speed of speaking. For example, the sentence “This is the malt that lay in the house that Bob built” can be divided into five as rhythm like “/ this is the / malt that / lay in the / house that / Bob built /. People pronounce thesefive parts with the same rhythm. This is called stress-timed pronunciation
1.2.7 Punctuation of syllable
The syllable is a unit of sound multiple with every syllable having a single vowel sound. A syllable includes some consonants in front and/orbehind with only one vowel sound. The word silenthas two syllables si・lent. There are two ways to break the syllable, one is historical origin break and the other one is pronunciation break.
Originbreakis the way it is divided in syllables with a central focus on the vowel which is pronounced where the syllable starts on the new consonant sound. For example, the word animal is divided a / ni / mal.
Pronunciationbreakis the way to divide it inthe middle in the case that there are more than two consonants which are pronounced. For example, the word systematization is divided sys / te / ma / ti / sa / tion.
1.3 Change of pronunciation
English has various changes when we pronounce sentences which we call suprasegmental variations. English is pronounced by counting the vowel sounds, but, it is pretty difficult to pronounce accurately. Therefore, English pronunciation often changesdue to linking, elision, assimilation, and elimination.
1.3.1 Linking
Linking is the phenomenon that the end sound of one word links to the first sound of the next word. Just a little is pronounced Jus Ta little, where “t” in the word just is linking with “a”. When consonants come after vowel sounds, two words are usually pronounced together.
1.3.2 Elision
Elision is the phenomenon that the end consonants of one word is not pronounced when the joint between the end consonants of one word and the first sound of next word is the same or similar. Get to is pronounced Ge to, as “t” is at the end of one word and the beginning of the next. Sit down changes SI down, “t” and “d” are similar.
1.3.3 Assimilation
Assimilation is a phenomenon when the end of word is a voiced sound and the first sound of next word is an unvoiced sound, the voiced sound often changes to the unvoiced sound. Of course [əvkɔ'ɚs]is pronounced [əfkɔ'ɚs] or Used to [júːzd toː] changes to [ju:stu]. Also when one word ends in unvoiced sound and next word starts in voiced sound, it changes. For example, South by [sáuθ bái] is pronounced [sáuð bái].
1.3.3.1 Voiced sounds
Voiced sounds are pronounced with one’s voice shaking. It is vowel sounds and voiced consonants.
All vowel sounds are usually voiced sounds and in the consonant, friction sounds-[v][z], plosives -[b][d][g], and others.
1.3.3.2 Unvoiced sound
Unvoiced sound is pronounced without one’s voice vibrating.
In the consonant, friction sounds-[p][t][ʈ,], plosive sounds-[ʃ][h][s], and others.
1.4 Improving pronunciation by reading aloud
1.4.1 Background
Reading aloud is said to be a basic effective practice method to improve the pronunciation. Morisawa (2009) said that it’s very important to pronounce English practically with motor system training,in whichwepracticallymoveourmouthandear,thenpronounceEnglishaloud.So, people should do training to use the sounds which are a fundamental form of language to get the practical skills of English.
1.4.2 Advantages and disadvantages
There are some advantages forreading aloud. First, we are able to listen to the pronunciation, so we can notice at our weak point of English pronounciation. Moreover, people can get used to pronouncing English with English pronunciation features like linking. It is thought that reading aloud is more effective than listening to the English CD and learning the pronunciation of individual words. However, on the contrary, reading aloud has some disadvantages such asthe potential for raised anxiety in making the correct English pronunciation especially in front of others, which reduces the effectiveness of reading aloud by half. Reading aloud with correct English pronunciation, the intonation and accent of English is not learned. This has an influence on listening skills. So, it is important to be close to native speakers.
1.4.3 Methods
1.4.3.1.Introduction
Therearealotofmethods inthemotorsystemtraining likereadingorpronouncingaloud.Welookatthosethreemethodswhicharepickedup.
1.4.3.2 Shadowing
In this method students repeat all the same sound that they heardimmediately. Shadowing involves both input and output to imitate the model sound. The difference from repeating, is that this training is withoutsomepause. This method is moreeffective to improve English pronunciation and intonation like native speakerthanothermethods[RW1]likeonlyreadingabookorlearningthecorrectwordpronunciation,bylisteningtotheEnglishCD[RW2]on whichthenativespeakerisspeakingandimitatingtheirpronunciation because we naturally learned the correct pronunciation, accent, and intonation.
1.4.3.3 Overlapping
This is the method in which students read aloud all same sound of model Englishaswespeakthe model pronunciationatsametime. It is more effective to improve [RW3]the natural English speed than other methodslikerepeatingorshadowing.Becausepeoplelistentothecorrectpronunciationorspeed andpeoplehavetoimitatethose pronunciationandspeed.
1.4.3.4 Repeating
This is the method that listening to the model English sentences or phrases and repeating same English literally.Forexample,peoplepronounceonesentenceorparagraphwhichtheylisten toitfromCD,afterlistening.
1.5 Previous research on the benefits of reading aloud on pronunciation
In this section we will look at previous research. There is the person who reportspractically training pronunciation with reading aloud.
1.5.1 Kawai (2012)
“Now, it is recognized for people that making foreigner understood what they say with their English is more priority than the accuracy of grammar and pronunciation in the business scene and diary conversation. One of the reasons is that people who speak English and their first language is not English are increasing all over the world”. (Kawai,2012)
Many peoplewould agree with this opinion basically. However, it is very difficult for Japanese people to reach the level of English to understand what they say. It is said that it is not easier for native English speaker to understand Japanese English than Indian English or Chinese English which we think the accent is strong by the influence of their first language.
The representative feature of Japlish which is theEnglish Japanese people speak, is the intonation. The language-Japanese is flat and doesn’t have much more intonation compared with English. Also, the vowel sounds “ai u e o” are pronounced equally. For Japanese people who get used to speaking English, it is good to speak with strength and weakness of sound consciously, or exaggeratedly a little.
In this case, it is more difficult to pronounce English weakly and suitably than speaking with strength and weakness. If people say “I should have done it yesterday”, in the case of native speaker, they don’t pronounce [ɑɪʃúdhǽvdˈʌnít]. In reality, they pronounce [ʃúdəv]. This relaxed way of speaking is connected with good English pronunciation.
The frequency of sounds is different between Japanese and English. So, it is said that there are a lot of sounds which Japanese people can’t understand as a language in English. Japanese people can’t catch English phrases well, in other words, they can’t hear English phrases well. Therefore, Japanese people can’t naturally speak English well.
The one method which fights such a weakness is “Recording.”
Kawai (2012), who is a journalist, recommends the method using the recorder to improve his English pronunciation. He got to speak English fluently and clearly by recording his English and listening to himself.
He used this for about two hours when commuting, because he was an office worker. He often choose the digest from the radio, because it is not like teaching materials. He listened to this many times and recorded his English on an IC recorder.He said that he understood his weak points and could correct the mistake in his pronunciation.
1.6 Research Questions
1. Does pronunciation improve after reading aloud?
2. How many attempts does it take to improve pronunciation?
3. What aspects of pronunciation are improved (or not) by reading aloud?
1.7 Conclusion
In Chapter One, we learned that it’s important for us to improve pronunciation. It is thought English has a lot of features that were cared correctly for Japanese people. Also, it’s important to get the hang of linking, assimilation and so on.
To improve the pronunciation, people should do practical training with the ear and mouth system for output and input.
Chapter Two presents the data for a questionnaire and an experiment about improving the pronunciationby recording my English and comparing correct English. Is this way actually effective?
Chapter 2: The Data
2.1 Introduction
In Chapter One, we looked at whether recording English after listening to the English CD and comparing with correct English to improve the pronunciation is effective or not. Also, we looked at people’s way to improve their pronunciation and people’s idea about pronunciation.
This chapter present the data for a questionnaire and an experiment about pronunciation to see if read aloud practice does improve pronunciation.
2.2 The experiment / questionnaire
2.2.1 Introduction to the experiment
Chapter One said that the reading aloud and recording practice is effective. So, this experiment seeks to show if it is true or not, and shows how effective it is.
2.2.2 Method of experiment
The experiment used thefollowing method. Thepersonwhodidtheexperimentisa fourth grade university student majoring English and is the author of this thesis. First, sheselected a CD to model from.The English CD I used is the part p5 in “My Mom, the Movie Star” (Waring and Jamall, 2007). The transcript is inAppendices.
1)Subjects
The subjects of this experiment’s judgment and questionnaire were Okayama Notre Dame Seishin University English major students and the University students who graduated from Okayama Saidaiji high school English major ages 21-22.
2)Questionnaire design
Introduction
The subjects were asked two questions*
1. Which ways do you practice pronunciation?Which ways do you practice pronunciation?Which ways do you practice pronunciation?
2. Which ways are effective for practicing English pronunciation? Why?
It is thought that these questionswill reveal which method people who study English and learn the English pronunciation practice their pronunciation, and which method they think is effective. Which ways are effective for practicing English pronunciation?
3)Experiment design
Introduction
In this section, we look at the way how the experiment was done by recording aloud and listening to it to see if it is effective to improve my pronunciation or not. Next were four steps as below.
Four steps
1Repeating English CD and recording my English I pronounce in my recording.
2Listening to my English and comparing with English CD threetimes
3Reading same sentences after checking my weak points and improving my pronunciation better again
4Noting my weak points in memo
First, theexperiment wasconductedusing these 5 times. Itwasdone about 30 minutes every two days.The recording day was 3 times in about 2 months. The first recording was30thApril, second recording was21st May, and final recording was2nd June. The first recording had no training to improve the pronunciation, only listening to the English CD twice and read aloud.