2017 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
A comprehensive analysis of the phonetic characteristics of English as a lingua franca
| Project/Area Number |
16K02776
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| Research Institution | Bunkyo Gakuin University |
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Principal Investigator |
ギルナー リーア 文京学院大学, 外国語学部, 准教授 (20558803)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
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| Keywords | Lingua franca / World Englishes / Phonology / Frequent vocabulary |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The second year of this research project focused on the design and implementation of a methodological approach appropriate to the description of phonological systems at play in ELF scenarios. An approach that provides the methods and means by which to make quantitative usage-based characterizations of each phonemic constituent in its various roles as one of many independent elements in a system, as a contrastive actor that establishes phonological oppositions with other elements, as a segmental member that participates in phonotactic sequences, and as a contributor to the amount of information conveyed by the system of elements was devised. A series of analyses designed to identify, qualify, and quantify the segmental components that comprise the ELF dominant vocabulary identified in first year of this research project were carried out on several phonological systems associated with a sampling of potential ELF users. The operationalization of functional load measures made it possible to observe idiosyncratic self-organizational tendencies in vowel systems, for example. Furthermore, comparative analyses with control sets of low-frequency and random-frequency vocabulary sets revealed that dominant vocabularies distinguish themselves as phonologically highly-contrastive. Results contribute to the development and analysis of phonological models of English used as a global link language while augmenting current understanding of the nature of high frequency vocabulary.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The accomplishments of the second year coincided with expectations. A series of analyses designed to identify, characterize, and classify the segmental components that comprise the ELF dominant vocabulary was devised and has proven informative. The methodology was applied to the analysis of several corpora, each corresponding to a different phonological system. Results from segmental analyses provided indication of the normalized probability of occurrence of phonemes as well as indication of the dispersion of attributes associated with each phonemic constituent of each system. Contrastive analyses provided indication of the range of phonological oppositions that each phoneme establishes along with an indication of probability of occurrence of specific pairings and collective phonological neighborhood density. Contrastive relationships were further characterized based on analysis of associated feature configurations. Functional load analyses provided indication of the relative contributions that various phonological classes such as vowels, consonants, features, and contrasts make to a phonological system.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
This phase of the project will consist of a series of analyses designed to identify, characterize, and categorize the configuration and interaction of the syllabic components that comprise the ELF lexicon. Analyses will include functional load measures, the elicitation of probabilistic influences of markedness on segment enrollment in consonant sequences, the characterization of word-internal coda-onset transitions, the identification of tendencies toward consonant migration in derivational affixation, the examination of onset density and potential correlations with recognition points of probabilistic neighbors, and the exploration of a potential derivation of empirical rules for the elicitation of syllable boundaries.
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| Causes of Carryover |
The funds provided will support the review and scrutinization of relevant literature including the purchase of books and other research materials. In addition, the analyses require the development of custom software. Monies will go toward consultations and implementation of the desired functionality. It is also expected that funding will be spent on travel costs for presenting findings and results at international and domestic conferences. It is anticipated that certain audio and computer equipment will be purchased to assist collection and examination of data.
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Research Products
(2 results)
