The Phonetic Challenges of Vowel Elision for Nigerian Students of French for Specific Purpose (FOS)

Awodeha Akpotoghogho; Jimoh Junior Braimoh

doi:10.18535/ijsrm/v12i07.el02

Abstract

This article examines the specific phonetic challenges faced by Nigerian students in French vowel elision for specific purpose (FOS). The study analyzes the difficulties related to vowel elision, a phonetic process crucial for the acquisition of advanced linguistic skills in FOS. The research methodology includes classroom observations, student assessments, and interviews with students and teachers, providing in-depth analysis of error patterns and contributing factors. The results show that the main obstacles come from the interference of mother tongues (L1), insufficient phonetic training and a lack of awareness of the nuances of French phonology. The study proposes suitable teaching strategies, focusing on targeted phonics training and awareness activities, to improve the effectiveness of FOS teaching for Nigerian students. Implications for teaching practice and future research are discussed.

Keywords

vowel elisionFrench for Specific PurposesNigerian studentsphonetic challengeslinguistic interferencephonetic training

References

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Carras, C., Tolas , J., Kohler, P., & Szilagyi , E. (2007). French for specific objectives and language class . Paris: Éditions CLE International.Google Scholar ↗
Dell, F. (1985). Rules and sounds: Introduction to generative phonology . Hermann.Google Scholar ↗
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Flege, J. E. (1987b). The production and perception of foreign language speech sounds. In H. Winitz (Ed.), Human communication and its disorders: A review (Vol. 1, pp. 224-401). Ablex.Google Scholar ↗
Flege, J. E., Munro, M. J., & MacKay, I. R. A. (1995). Factors affecting strength of perceived foreign accent in a second language. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 97(5), 3125-3134.Google Scholar ↗
Flege, J.E., & Munro, M.J. (1994). The word unit in L2 speech production and perception. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 16 (4), 381-411.Google Scholar ↗
Haidar , M. (2015). For a contextualized teaching of scientific French at university. The example of biology and geology at the University of Kenitra (Morocco). Revue de sociolinguistique et de sociologie de la langue française, 2 (41), 101-118.Google Scholar ↗
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Lado, R. (1957). Linguistics across cultures: Applied linguistics for language teachers . University of Michigan Press.Google Scholar ↗
Lenneberg, E. H. (1967). Biological foundations of language . John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar ↗
Mangiante , J.-M., & Parpette, C. (2002). French for specific objectives: from needs analysis to course development . Ed Hachette.Google Scholar ↗
Mangiante , J.-M. (2007). The French referentialization process for professions. French in the world: research and applications. Language and work . Paris: CLE international FIPF, pp. 129-144.Google Scholar ↗
Munro, M. J. (1993). Productions of English vowels by native speakers of Arabic: Acoustic measurements and accentedness ratings. Language and Speech, 36(1), 39-66.Google Scholar ↗
Prince, A., & Smolensky, P. (2004). Optimality Theory: Constraint interaction in generative grammar. Blackwell Publishing.Google Scholar ↗
Scovel, T. (1981). The recognition of foreign accents in English and its implications for psycholinguistic theories of speech production. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 19(1-4), 25-35.Google Scholar ↗
Underhill, A. (1998). Sound foundations: Learning and teaching pronunciation. Macmillan Education.Google Scholar ↗
Wode, H. (1989). Phonology in L2 acquisition. In H. Wode (Ed.), Studien zur Zweitspracherwerbsforschung (pp. 39-57). Gunter Narr Verlag.Google Scholar ↗
Wode, H. (1992). Speech perception and production in L2 acquisition: Towards a coherent account. In R. J. Harris (Ed.), Cognitive processing in bilinguals (pp. 341-354). Elsevier.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-1] Awodeha , A. (2018). Learning phonetics in FLE: Vowel elision and the problems faced by students of French . University of Lagos.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-2] Carras, C., Tolas , J., Kohler, P., & Szilagyi , E. (2007). French for specific objectives and language class . Paris: Éditions CLE International.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-3] Dell, F. (1985). Rules and sounds: Introduction to generative phonology . Hermann.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-4] Flege, J. E. (1987a). The production of "new" and "similar" phones in a foreign language: Evidence for the effect of equivalence classification. Journal of Phonetics, 15(1), 47-65.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-5] Flege, J. E. (1987b). The production and perception of foreign language speech sounds. In H. Winitz (Ed.), Human communication and its disorders: A review (Vol. 1, pp. 224-401). Ablex.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-6] Flege, J. E., Munro, M. J., & MacKay, I. R. A. (1995). Factors affecting strength of perceived foreign accent in a second language. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 97(5), 3125-3134.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-7] Flege, J.E., & Munro, M.J. (1994). The word unit in L2 speech production and perception. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 16 (4), 381-411.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-8] Haidar , M. (2015). For a contextualized teaching of scientific French at university. The example of biology and geology at the University of Kenitra (Morocco). Revue de sociolinguistique et de sociologie de la langue française, 2 (41), 101-118.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-9] Hilgert , E. (2007). When the FOS turns to the FOU (French for university objectives). Terres de FLE, Publication of the Center for Applied Linguistics , Besançon, International Conference of ADCUEFE, University of Franche-Comté.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-10] Lado, R. (1957). Linguistics across cultures: Applied linguistics for language teachers . University of Michigan Press.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-11] Lenneberg, E. H. (1967). Biological foundations of language . John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-12] Mangiante , J.-M., & Parpette, C. (2002). French for specific objectives: from needs analysis to course development . Ed Hachette.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-13] Mangiante , J.-M. (2007). The French referentialization process for professions. French in the world: research and applications. Language and work . Paris: CLE international FIPF, pp. 129-144.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-14] Munro, M. J. (1993). Productions of English vowels by native speakers of Arabic: Acoustic measurements and accentedness ratings. Language and Speech, 36(1), 39-66.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-15] Prince, A., & Smolensky, P. (2004). Optimality Theory: Constraint interaction in generative grammar. Blackwell Publishing.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-16] Scovel, T. (1981). The recognition of foreign accents in English and its implications for psycholinguistic theories of speech production. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 19(1-4), 25-35.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-17] Underhill, A. (1998). Sound foundations: Learning and teaching pronunciation. Macmillan Education.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-18] Wode, H. (1989). Phonology in L2 acquisition. In H. Wode (Ed.), Studien zur Zweitspracherwerbsforschung (pp. 39-57). Gunter Narr Verlag.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-19] Wode, H. (1992). Speech perception and production in L2 acquisition: Towards a coherent account. In R. J. Harris (Ed.), Cognitive processing in bilinguals (pp. 341-354). Elsevier.Google Scholar ↗