Phonetische Norm oder Aussprachestandard? Eine Perspektive der Forschung zur Aussprache des Polnischen als Fremdsprache
Phonetic Norm or Pronunciation Standard? A Perspective of Research on Foreign Polish Pronunciation)

Summary/Abstract: The present paper serves as a voice in the discussion on the issues of pronunciation norm(s) and standard in Polish with reference to phonetic research. The notion of norm(s) and standard seems to be multi-level, unstable, fragmented and constantly changing. As there exists no new dictionary of Polish pronunciation and a number of phonetic guidelines seem to be outdated and/or not based on actual empirical research, while conducting the study of foreign Polish pronunciation (within the framework of articulatory phonetics), the author needed to evaluate the question of the selection of the reference ground, i.e. certain standard to which the results, namely non-native articulatory patterns, should be compared. The article aims to answer the question what could possibly serve as this reference point and how it should be selected. Taking into consideration a selection of existing relevant publications concerned with phonetic norm, pronunciation standard and communicative acceptability, the article discusses their (in)applicability in this kind of research, pointing to the terms such as e.g. ‚glottodidactic norm‘, ‚pronunciation norm‘ and ‚developmental norm‘. Phonetic dictionaries, guidelines (rulebooks) and examination standards are mentioned in the course of the argument. Investigations lead to the conclusion that phonetic research may be conducted without referencing to any norm or standard but its outcomes are more functional and applicable if such comparison ground is carefully selected. Due to the absence of one source that could serve as a point of comparison, certain synthesis should be prepared, taking into consideration language change (generational variation), regional variation, sociolinguistic factors and certain pronunciation standard based also on communicative acceptability rather than prescriptive account not backed up with empirical data.

• Details
• Contents