Full metadata record
| DC Field | Value | Language |
|---|---|---|
| dc.contributor | Department of English | en_US |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Stell, Gerald (ENGL) | en_US |
| dc.creator | Gao, Zengfang | - |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/10705 | - |
| dc.language | English | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Hong Kong Polytechnic University | en_US |
| dc.rights | All rights reserved | en_US |
| dc.title | A comparative study on the pronunciation features of English by Cantonese speakers and Northern Mandarin speakers | en_US |
| dcterms.abstract | In the research of Second Language Acquisition (SLA), L1 transfer from the 'interlectal approach' has been prevailing over the past decades to be accountable for the stable features of new English varieties. However, according to the theories of 'Founder Principle' (Mufwene, 2001) and 'Nativization' (Schneider, 2007), some stable features not necessarily related to L1s tend to form in the Outer Circle. Also, the recently proposed 'EIF' model (Buschfeld & Kautzsch 2017) claims that - just as the Outer Circle - the Expanding Circle can produce stable English varieties whose features are not necessarily just substratal. To test the 'EIF' model, this study invited eight informants from two distinct Chinese dialects areas, i.e., Cantonese and Northern Mandarin (specifically Jilu Mandarin) (each with two males and two females), both from Mainland China which is in the Expanding Circle, and investigated their English pronunciation features respectively. By assigning two tasks (i.e. passage reading & storytelling) to the informants followed by a semi-structured interview, this study identified several substratal features shared by the two groups and other group-specific substratal ones within each group. With Cantonese speakers used some non-Cantonese Chinese features in their English, some 'innovations' were also detected in both groups. However, there is no significant distinction between male and female speakers found in this study. With the analysis of the results, this study conforms largely with the 'interlectal' approach which signifies L1 transfer in second language learning and seems to provide some evidence for the 'EIF' model as well as there are a few 'innovations' found in the speakers' English pronunciation. In addition, the follow-up interviews also reveal that American culture may have played a significant role in shaping their English accents. | en_US |
| dcterms.extent | 94 pages | en_US |
| dcterms.isPartOf | PolyU Electronic Theses | en_US |
| dcterms.issued | 2020 | en_US |
| dcterms.educationalLevel | M.A. | en_US |
| dcterms.educationalLevel | All Master | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | English language -- Pronunciation by foreign speakers | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | English language -- Pronunciation -- Study and teaching | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | English language -- Study and teaching -- Chinese speakers | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations | en_US |
| dcterms.accessRights | restricted access | en_US |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5137.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 722.54 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Copyright Undertaking
As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:
- I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
- I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
- I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.
By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/10705