Отражение вокализма чувашских диалектов в «Сравнительном словаре» П. С. Палласа

Author(s): Alexandr V. Savelyev / Language(s): Russian Issue: 01 (8)/2013

The article gives a detailed analysis of the Chuvash vocalism reflected in Pallas’s Dictionary that dates back to the XVIII century. It is established that the dictionary’s orthography reflects quite unambiguously the features of both the Viryal and Anatri dialects of the Chuvash language. A number of dictionary entries preserve archaic features of the Chuvash vocalism that are not attested in the later records.

К вопросу об эрзянском вокализме второго слога

Author(s): Mikhail Zhivlov / Language(s): Russian Issue: 02 (9)/2013

The author of the article notes the importance of the problem, that Vadim Ponaryadov deals with in the article “Reflection of the Proto-Permic final vowels of the second syllable in Erzya”. The author also pays attention to general and particular disadvantages of this work.

Олонхо современных олонхосутов: о проблемах сохранения и издания эпических текстов

Author(s): Igor Kormushin / Language(s): Russian Issue: 02 (9)/2013

Problemy (cudzoziemców i lektorów języka polskiego) z wymową liczebników

Author(s): Marcin Maciołek / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2015

The article presents problems, which are encountered by foreigners and native speakers when pronouncing and accentuating Polish numerals. The most common phonetic mistakes are described and the mechanism that leads to their occurance explained. The article concludes with a list of Polish numerals with their phonetic transcription, which shows their correct pronunciation – the one that should be considered as the model pronunciation in official statements and/or accepted in everyday speech.

Geminaty w językach słowiańskich

Author(s): Anna Kozyra / Language(s): Polish Issue: 15/2015

The subject of the article is the occurrence of geminates in Slavic languages. Research on the frequency of geminated consonants is based on 50-page texts read by native speakers. The results did not confirm the popular opinion that the occurrence vs. lack of geminates is a typological feature differentiating Slavic languages. The study showed, however, that today typologically significant difference between Slavic languages is the one in frequency of the occurrence of geminates.

K antičkim korijenima prozodije

Author(s): Slobodan Stamatović / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 01/137/2015

The starting assumption of this paper is that language lives only in speech and that the experience of understanding is based on listening. However, in the case of ancient Greek a problem appears since we do not have a faithful image of the acoustic dimensions of the language, particularly its prosody. That is why we undertook the reconstruction of the prosodic structure of the classical Greek accents instantiating them with the Croatian accentual equivalents (including also those that belong to the Croatian dialects). The accents are presented by musical notation which is appropriate both for the Croatian and for the ancient Greek accentual system, and a new description of Neoshtokavian accents is given. At the same time the reconstruction of the Greek prosodic analysis is presented and compared with Croatian traditional prosody. It is shown that there are much greater differences in the very approach to prosody then in the prosody itself. The conclusion is that the Croatian traditional (scholarly) prosody is not quite pertinent to Croatian language and that it can be much better described by the principles reconstructed on the example of the ancient Greek language.

Vplyv jazykových predpokladov na úspešnosť učenia sa cudzieho jazyka

Author(s): Michal Tatarko / Language(s): Slovak Issue: 3/2019

The paper deals with language aptitude and its effect on the foreign language learning. The main aim is to explore the language aptitude and identify its role in foreign language learning from theoretical and empirical point of view. Based on the theoretical analysis, we identified a variable that can serve as a potential predictor of success in the foreign language learning. Data, which we collected at selected grammar schools in Prešov district, were statistically analyzed – we examined the correlation between the linguistic component of language aptitude (independent variable) and language learning success (dependent variable). The data were collected by means of testing and scaling. The result confirmed the assumed hypothesis that the language aptitude is a relevant predictor of success in foreign language learning. This result is in comparison to other studies very similar.

Hypocoristic palatalization in Basque and historical applications

Author(s): Jackson Wolf / Language(s): English Issue: 9/2023

This paper examines the processes of expressive palatalization in the Basque diminutive. Basque has two forms of the diminutive, a list of inflectional suffixes and a method of palatalization with specific phonological requirements. A speaker will first palatalize any coronal sibilants in the word. If there are none, then a dental obstruent that has a palatal counterpart is the next candidate. If there are again, none, then the last candidate is a dental coronal, but only the consonant on the leftmost edge. However, if there is a sibilant and a dental consonant, only the sibilants are palatalized. If there is a dental obstruent and a dental sonorant, only the obstruent is palatalized. To describe this process, I adopt an OT approach and an autosegmental approach to determine where the [+palatal] inflection morpheme can attach. Finally, I show the application of unworking the hypocoristic formation through internal reconstruction of Basque in animal names to produce two reconstructions.

The TUNJO battery as a predictor of phonetic ability: A survey among English Philology students

Author(s): GRAŻYNA GORBACZ-DAILIDA / Language(s): English Issue: 03 (42)/2023

Some learners are more successful in foreign language mastering than others. Among the plausible explanations discussed in the literature (Carroll 1981; Skehan 1991; Dörnyei 2005; Stansfield & Reed 2019; Griffiths & Soruç 2020), the concept of foreign language aptitude (FLA) is regarded as one of the key factors that can influence or predict learners’ success in the process of foreign language acquisition. The present pilot quantitative study aims to assess the extent to which learners’ level of foreign language aptitude can be correlated to their general phonological ability based on the example of first-year MA English Philology students (N=10). To assess the students’ level of aptitude, the Polish adaptation of the Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT), called the Test of Aptitude for the Learning of Foreign Languages (Test Uzdolnień do Nauki Języków Obcych – TUNJO), was used. On the other hand, to measure their level of phonetic ability, the test, which focused on several chosen areas covered during practical and theoretical phonetics classes during the BA programme, was constructed and submitted to the group. The quantitative data gathered throughout those two stages were subsequently analysed and interpreted. The results obtained revealed no significant correlation between the students’ level of aptitude and their general phonetic ability. Other individual differences and affective factors in language learning, alongside the structure of the measuring tools and the measurement itself, may justify the apparent lack of correlation.

Перцепција дијалекатског порекла у језику медија: Да ли је употребна норма наддијалекатски идиом?

Author(s): Miljana Čopa,Sofija Miloradović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2024

Based on the assumption that the standard language in use, including prosodic features, is a distinct supradialectal idiom that lacks regionally distinctive features and can be acquired by speakers originating from dialect regions that are structurally distant from the dialects that serve as the basis for the standard language, we aim to investigate whether speakers from different dialect regions can be identified in TV speech by their dialectal origin. The study involved 45 participants, including 30 high school students and 15 linguists, who were asked to identify the dialect origins of speakers from different dialect regions using a multimedia survey. The results of the study indicate that a person’s speech does not always clearly reveal their dialect base. Furthermore, the standard language can also be acquired by speakers of Serbian who come from dialect regions that are distant from the dialects that formed the basis of the standard Serbian language. This study could pave the way for further research in the field of perceptual dialectology and contribute to a broader and deeper understanding of this phenomenon.

The etymology of the Turkic ev, eb, üj etc. ‘house’

Author(s): Jakub Łukasik / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2024

This paper collates and reviews previously proposed etymologies of the Turkic word ev, eb, üj etc. ‘house’. Moreover, as the etymology of this lexeme is still uncertain, it aims to once again analyze the available material and attempts to establish a convincing etymology. Another important aim of the paper is to clearly demonstrate which issues connected with the topic can be considered established and which require further study.

FOR INTERACTION OF MTIULIAN AND MESKHETIAN DIALECTS

Author(s): Lamzira KOBAİDZE / Language(s): English Issue: 64/2024

Mtiulian dialect is one of the distinguished ones out of highland dialects of the Eastern Georgia. It is linked to the mountain speech by the features characterized for ancient Georgian while it is close to Kartlian and Kakhetian by new features. It is known from the scientific literature, that Mtiulians were resettled in different places with support of the Soviet Government. Currently, they live in Dusheti, Tianeti, Kaspi, Tetritskaro (Manglisi), Leningori, Tsiteltskaro (Kvemo Kedi), Aspindza and Samgori districts. Close relationship with different dialects has changed their speech. In December 1944 the population were resettled from Mtiuleti to the villages of Aspindza district, such as Idumala, Oshora, Sakudabeli, Orgora, Ghobieti, Akhalsheni, Khertvisi, Rustavi, Ota... Some of the villages listed above are abandoned nowadays. It is natural, that local Meskhetian population met to those who were resettled there. As a result of living together of Mtiulian and Meskhetian population of many years both dialects have experienced some changes. The peculiarities of the case category are more interesting for us which demonstrates interesting and diversified picture of both dialects. The article refers to the case category and the changes related to it in both dialects. The discussion is based on the dialect material taken from the field demonstrating the character of both dialects clearly. The idea of this paper is to present concisely and clearly the specific linguistic aspects of the two dialects in phonetics, morphology and syntax. We are going to provide a detailed analysis in the monograph.

Unveiling Tonal Contrasts in the Baltic Region: Exploring Stød in Livonian Spontaneous Speech

Author(s): Tuuli Tuisk,Nicolai Pharao / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2024

This paper presents findings for the tonal contrast and phonation differences between words with and without stød in Livonian spontaneous speech. Livonian differentiates between two contrastive phonological tones: the broken tone or stød and the plain tone. Stød is similar to the Danish stød in some respects and is said to be part of the tone systems of the phonologies of languages in the Baltic region. The findings show that the tonal contrast between words with and without stød tends to be neutralised in Livonian spontaneous speech, but there are individual differences between speakers and also differences between men and women. The most common non-modal phonation period categories in words with stød are creaky and tense. The results also indicate that stød disappears when the word has no prominence.

EXPLORING THE STATUS OF THE VOICELESS LABIOVELAR FRICATIVE /ʍ/ IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN ENGLISH

Author(s): Dominika Walczak / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

The study attempts to investigate the current status of the voiceless labiovelar fricative /ʍ/in American English with reference to selected sociolinguistic variables, such as age,regional background, formality of the speech and prestige. The study comprises 17 subjectsand 34 recordings of their speech – two recordings of a different level of formality per eachspeaker. All of the analyzed recordings are available online. The analysis focuses on wh-words, such as e.g. why, while, whale or white. In the first part of the study, the number ofwh-context words in each speech is juxtaposed with the actual production of the researchedvariable. The second part of the study concentrates on the comparison of the obtainedqualitative data with selected social variables. The results of the study may not only broadenthe understanding of the voiceless labiovelar fricative use in American English but may alsohave pedagogical implications to whether the variable should be included in the phoneticcourses on American English.

SELECTED ACOUSTIC FEATURES OF THE WELSH LATERAL FRICATIVE /Ɫ/

Author(s): Michał Baran / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

The Welsh language exhibits a number of features uncommon from a cross-linguistic pointof view, one of which is a relatively large number of fricative phonemes. This paper analysesselected acoustic features of the Welsh lateral fricative /ɬ/ in order to contribute to the debateon the laryngeal system in Welsh and the classification of /ɬ/ within that system. Totalarticulation length, voicing length and SMA parameters of the friction period are measuredand analysed on the basis of recordings of 6 native speakers of Welsh. The results confirmthe classification of /ɬ/ as a fortis sound proposed in earlier studies (Asmus and Grawunder2017, Baran forthcoming) and suggest that the Welsh /ɬ/ may exhibit aspiration.

CHUNKING A TRANSCRIPT OF A LECTURE TO HELP STUDENTS AT EAP COURSES IMPROVE THEIR LISTENING COMPREHENSION SKILL(S)

Author(s): Janusz Badio / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2024

Pre-sessional EAP courses in the UK welcome international students seeking admission to British universities. The official requirement for English language proficiency is typically determined by a student’s scores in the four language skills. Students' proficiency levels in these skills generally range from 5.0 to 6.5. One significant challenge faced by foreign students is in the area of listening skills. The listening comprehension classes often involve listening to lengthy lectures, during which students struggle with note-taking and answering questions. One effective instructional strategy is to provide plain text transcripts of recorded lectures. This article aims to illustrate how a lecturer segments speech and how teachers can transcribe this process and its constituent units using methodologies discussed in works such as Badio (2004), Chafe (1994, 2003), and Croft (1995). The unit of speech in these analyses is defined by a set of conceptual and phonetic criteria, and segmenting a lecture involves applying these criteria impressionistically. The resulting modified format of a plain text transcript can serve as a valuable pedagogical tool. Teachers can demonstrate to students, who may not have a background in linguistics, that a single word is not the only or primary unit of speech. They can illustrate how pauses signal new topics or how different types of intonation units are used to convey conceptualisations and regulate the flow of ideas and speech. Such focused and structured presentations enhance language acquisition and learning.

RECONSIDERING THE RELIANCE ON FUNCTIONAL LOAD: THE ROLE OF PHONETIC DISTANCE IN PREDICTING L2 SEGMENTAL SUBSTITUTIONS

Author(s): KATE CHALLIS,ZOË ZAWADZKI,Ewa Kusz / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2024

Much research agrees that Functional Load (FL), i.e., the extent to which a phoneme pairdistinguishes between different words in a language, is a useful feature to consider in prioritizingphoneme pairs for pronunciation instruction in the second language (L2) classroom. However,FL measures are not always easy to access and are often calculated according to differentprinciples, whereas other more easily observable features exist, including Phonetic Distance (PD),or the degree of physiological similarity between phones in a phoneme pair. One way to evaluatefeatures and their interrelatedness is to use them in a linear mixed effects regression (LMER)model to predict the rate of observed L2 substitutions that are actually made in speech. This studyexamines the relationship between two measures of FL (Brown, 1988; Gilner & Morales, 2010)and an estimate of PD we devised from 22 unique articulatory features of vowels and consonantsin their ability to predict substitutions in the L2-ARCTIC dataset (Zhao et al. 2018) whileaccounting for other sources of variation. It was found that even when PD had a resolution of only2 points, it was highly associated with variance in substitution rates, but that the best modelincluded FL and PD measures together. This finding suggests that PD may also be an importantconsideration when deciding which phoneme pairs to prioritize in L2 instruction.

The vowels that almost harmonized: On Old Hungarian long vowels

Author(s): András Cser,Beatrix Oszkó,Zsuzsa Várnai / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2025

While in Modern Hungarian labial harmony is confined to short front non-high vowels, in Late Old Hungarian some suffixes including non-high long vowels were also able to undergo labial harmony. This paper discusses three of the most widely attested suffixes in question, the ablative, the delative and the elative nominal case suffixes. All the three suffixes were originally grammaticalized from case-marked nouns; their participation in both backness and labial harmony followed on their integration into the morphological structure of host nouns. Their ability to undergo labial harmony was subsequently lost. An explanation is proposed for why they stopped harmonizing in labiality, based partly on the phonological parameters of variation extant in Late Old Hungarian, partly on homophony avoidance in the changing paradigmatic space of the case system.

CZY POTRZEBNA JEST REFORMA SYSTEMU TRANSKRYBOWANIA TEKSTÓW W JĘZYKU ROSYJSKIM ZA POMOCĄ LITER POLSKIEGO ALFABETU? PRZYCZYNEK DO DYSKUSJI NAD REGUŁAMI KONWERSJI WRAZ Z PREZENTACJĄ PEWNYCH ROZWIĄZAŃ

Author(s): Daniel Dzienisiewicz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 01/2025

The article raises the issue of the validity of modifying the current transcription systemof Russian texts into characters of the Polish alphabet. The introduc on presents the concept oftranscrip on, the PWN transcrip on rules and their current cri cism, as well as the resultsof research on the transcrip on prac ce of Poles. Next, the author discusses the direc ons forpossible modifi ca on of the transcrip on rules so that they be er refl ect the phone c side ofthe Russian language, and then presents a proposal for a catalogue of rules modifi ed accordingto the previously made assump ons. In order to show the prac cal applica on of the proposedrules, sample texts transcribed in accordance with them are a ached to the ar cle. The authorintends the ar cle to be a contribu on to the discussion on the current and future shape of therules for transcribing the Russian language into characters of the Polish alphabet.

O konieczności reformy zapisu odmiany niektórych typów angielskich nazw własnych osobowych

Author(s): Ewa Wolańska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 03/2025

The ar cle provides a cri cal analysis of current orthographic norms governing the infl ec on ofEnglish surnames in Polish. The documents developed by the Council for the Polish Language inconnec on with the ongoing orthographic reform do not provide comprehensive solu ons withrespect to this problem. The paper postulates employing graphema c tools to develop coherentinfl ec on rules based on a precise phoneme–grapheme mapping. The analysis covers varioustypes of English surnames, including those not addressed in previous orthographic guidelines.Importantly, a redefi ni on of the apostrophe’s func on in personal proper name infl ec on isproposed. The second part of the ar cle presents recommenda ons aimed at standardizingand simplifying the nota on, while keeping the original spelling and preserving the originalpronuncia on as much as possible.