英语学习者朗读口语中的调核位置  

Tonicity and Information Focus

作　　者：陈桦[1] 

机构地区：[1]南通大学外国语学院,江苏南通226007

出　　处：《解放军外国语学院学报》2006年第6期32-38,共7页Journal of PLA University of Foreign Languages

基　　金：江苏省高校哲学社会科学重点项目(05SJB740004)

摘　　要：调核是语调单位(调群)中最突显的音节,是信息焦点。调核位置不同,信息中心也随之发生变化。本研究以Crystal(1975)的“调核约束理论”为依据,以实验语音学为研究手段,以8名英国大学生的调核位置为参照标准,对中国45名学习者的英语朗读口语进行了分析。结果发现,学习者无标记调核的比例低于本族语者;在有标记调核中,非对比重音或新信息重音的语法项较多,尤其是人称代词的比例偏高,容易使信息焦点发生偏移,从而影响信息的传递及话语的理解。本研究对英语学习者如何有效地利用语调传递信息、突出英语语调教学重点均具有指导作用。Nucleus is the most prominent syllable in a tone group, and it is also an informational focus. Nucleus in different places convey different meanings. Using Crystal＇s theory of Tonieity＇s Conditions as the theoretical framework, the present study compared nucleus placement in Native Speakers＇ and Chinese EFL learners＇ read speech. 8 British college students and 45 Chinese learners of English were asked to read aloud an 820-word story. The recorded speech data were annotated and analyzed on the computer with PRAAT. Findings show that the EFL learners fail to have the nuclei of tone groups fall on the syllables that carry new information. It is also found that EFL learners＇ speech tends to include more feet than that of their NS counterparts. In eases where the accented syllables are those carrying given information or those contained in grammatical items, incorrect accentuation may greatl）; interfere with the conveying of information. The study has important implications for China＇s EFL pedagogy as well as for the improvement of rating rubrics for China＇s oral English tests.

关 键 词：调核 信息焦点 语调 学习者 

分 类 号：H319.9[语言文字—英语]