The effects of speaking rate and pausing on comprehensibility of non-native English

This study examined the effects of the temporal variables (i.e., speaking rate and pausing) on comprehensibility ratings of second language (L2) speech. Twenty advanced Chinese speakers of English were audio-recorded as they read 3 short airline flight announcement passages. For each passage, the speakers adjusted their speech based on the instructions provided (i.e., natural speed, slightly slower speed, and natural speed with attention to pauses). All the speech samples were rated by 20 native speakers of English for comprehensibility. The results showed that although the Chinese speakers were successfully able to read aloud each passage and adjust their speech differently based on the instructions, the change in their reading style did not bring about any statistically significant difference in the comprehensibility ratings. The possible reasons for the speech adjustments having no effect on the ratings are discussed in terms of raters' topic familiarity and the cross-linguistic phonological difference in Chinese and English as well as pedagogical implications.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Teaching of English Sec Lang

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Muramoto, Kokoro

Contributors dc:contributor

• Franks, Suzanne
• Sadler, Randall

• Comprehensibility: Speaking rate
• Pausing
• L2

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Kokoro Muramoto

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/90962

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/90962