An optimality theoretic-based analysis of consonant cluster pronunciation errors among Iraqi EFL learners

This study examines the pronunciation errors of English consonant clusters among Iraqi EFL learners through the lens of Optimality Theory (OT).  For this aim, 40 first-year university students of different majors aged 18-25 years were selected from beginner and lower-intermediate levels based on the...

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Main Authors: Zohreh Sadat Naseri, fatemeh Ahmadinasab, Rawaa Kadhem Jawaad
Format: Article
Language:fas
Published: Alzahra University 2024-12-01
Series:زبان پژوهی
Subjects:
Online Access:https://zabanpazhuhi.alzahra.ac.ir/article_8193_d3d09e1a5a4c65ce1eb41451203920e0.pdf
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author Zohreh Sadat Naseri
fatemeh Ahmadinasab
Rawaa Kadhem Jawaad
author_facet Zohreh Sadat Naseri
fatemeh Ahmadinasab
Rawaa Kadhem Jawaad
author_sort Zohreh Sadat Naseri
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the pronunciation errors of English consonant clusters among Iraqi EFL learners through the lens of Optimality Theory (OT).  For this aim, 40 first-year university students of different majors aged 18-25 years were selected from beginner and lower-intermediate levels based on their scores on Oxford Placement Test. Using different instruments, such as reading instruction and read-aloud test, and being informed from the category of major pronunciation problems by Arabic learners presented by Yavaş (2011), an Optimality Theory-based analysis was adopted in the research. Findings indicated that in pronouncing initial clusters of two consonants, *COMPLEX onset as the high-ranked constraint is frequently violated in Iraqi Arabic (IA), because in IA there are many words started with #CCV. Also, *#CCC is never violated in IA. Since constraints are universal, languages differ only in how they rank them. In pronouncing a coda cluster consisting of two consonants, although *CCcoda is never violated in IA, this constraint is not permuted in the pronunciation of the participants. However, to pronounce words with the structure of VCCC(C)#, it seems that the two low-ranked constraints, namely *CCCCcoda and *CCCcoda in English are permuted to high-ranked constraints in the pronunciation of IA learners.
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series زبان پژوهی
spelling doaj-art-eeeb52a116a74044978979d542dc51412025-01-27T14:33:40ZfasAlzahra Universityزبان پژوهی2008-88332538-19892024-12-0116539711810.22051/jlr.2024.47947.24708193An optimality theoretic-based analysis of consonant cluster pronunciation errors among Iraqi EFL learnersZohreh Sadat Naseri0fatemeh Ahmadinasab1Rawaa Kadhem Jawaad2Assistant professor, Dept. of English Language and Literature, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, IranAssistant professor, Dept. of English Language and Literature, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, IranM. A. in TEFL, Dept. of English Language and Literature, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, IranThis study examines the pronunciation errors of English consonant clusters among Iraqi EFL learners through the lens of Optimality Theory (OT).  For this aim, 40 first-year university students of different majors aged 18-25 years were selected from beginner and lower-intermediate levels based on their scores on Oxford Placement Test. Using different instruments, such as reading instruction and read-aloud test, and being informed from the category of major pronunciation problems by Arabic learners presented by Yavaş (2011), an Optimality Theory-based analysis was adopted in the research. Findings indicated that in pronouncing initial clusters of two consonants, *COMPLEX onset as the high-ranked constraint is frequently violated in Iraqi Arabic (IA), because in IA there are many words started with #CCV. Also, *#CCC is never violated in IA. Since constraints are universal, languages differ only in how they rank them. In pronouncing a coda cluster consisting of two consonants, although *CCcoda is never violated in IA, this constraint is not permuted in the pronunciation of the participants. However, to pronounce words with the structure of VCCC(C)#, it seems that the two low-ranked constraints, namely *CCCCcoda and *CCCcoda in English are permuted to high-ranked constraints in the pronunciation of IA learners.https://zabanpazhuhi.alzahra.ac.ir/article_8193_d3d09e1a5a4c65ce1eb41451203920e0.pdfpronunciation errorsconsonant clustersiraqi efl learnersconstraint rankingoptimality theory
spellingShingle Zohreh Sadat Naseri
fatemeh Ahmadinasab
Rawaa Kadhem Jawaad
An optimality theoretic-based analysis of consonant cluster pronunciation errors among Iraqi EFL learners
زبان پژوهی
pronunciation errors
consonant clusters
iraqi efl learners
constraint ranking
optimality theory
title An optimality theoretic-based analysis of consonant cluster pronunciation errors among Iraqi EFL learners
title_full An optimality theoretic-based analysis of consonant cluster pronunciation errors among Iraqi EFL learners
title_fullStr An optimality theoretic-based analysis of consonant cluster pronunciation errors among Iraqi EFL learners
title_full_unstemmed An optimality theoretic-based analysis of consonant cluster pronunciation errors among Iraqi EFL learners
title_short An optimality theoretic-based analysis of consonant cluster pronunciation errors among Iraqi EFL learners
title_sort optimality theoretic based analysis of consonant cluster pronunciation errors among iraqi efl learners
topic pronunciation errors
consonant clusters
iraqi efl learners
constraint ranking
optimality theory
url https://zabanpazhuhi.alzahra.ac.ir/article_8193_d3d09e1a5a4c65ce1eb41451203920e0.pdf
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