First language and proficiency level effects on English vowel perception by Iraqi learners of English in Malaysia

Motivated by the assumptions that first language (L1) influence was found to be a very strong predictor of foreign accent degree in the pronunciation of second language learners and that increased experience in the second language (L2) may nurture improved recognition of the differences between the...

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Main Authors:	Al Abdely, Ammar Abdul-Wahab, Ilyana Jalaluddin, Che An Abdul Ghani, Yap, Ngee Thai
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2016
Online Access:	http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10994/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10994/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10994/1/17926-50922-1-SM.pdf

id	ukm-10994
recordtype	eprints
spelling	ukm-109942017-11-24T00:11:01Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10994/ First language and proficiency level effects on English vowel perception by Iraqi learners of English in Malaysia Al Abdely, Ammar Abdul-Wahab Ilyana Jalaluddin, Che An Abdul Ghani, Yap, Ngee Thai Motivated by the assumptions that first language (L1) influence was found to be a very strong predictor of foreign accent degree in the pronunciation of second language learners and that increased experience in the second language (L2) may nurture improved recognition of the differences between the L1 and L2 segments, this study examines the effect of L1 and proficiency level on the perception of English monophthongs by Iraqi EFL learners. Iraqi learners of English who speak Baghdadi Arabic as their native language were recruited for the study. Their level of proficiency in English was measured with the Quick Placement Test (UCLES, 2001). Performance in the perception test revealed that Iraqi learners face different levels of difficulty in the perception of most monophthongs in English. The results showed prominent perceptual trends regardless of the learner's proficiency level for some vowels, suggesting strong L1 effect across all proficiency levels. The study also found that the perceptual abilities of EFL learners can be improved with more exposure to the L2. The errors made by Iraqi learners can be explained based on perceived similarity and distance between L2 and L1 vowel spaces. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2016-06 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10994/1/17926-50922-1-SM.pdf Al Abdely, Ammar Abdul-Wahab and Ilyana Jalaluddin, and Che An Abdul Ghani, and Yap, Ngee Thai (2016) First language and proficiency level effects on English vowel perception by Iraqi learners of English in Malaysia. AJTLHE: ASEAN Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 8 (1). pp. 1-19. ISSN 1985-5826 http://ejournal.ukm.my/ajtlhe/issue/view/921
repository_type	Digital Repository
institution_category	Local University
institution	Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia
building	UKM Institutional Repository
collection	Online Access
language	English
description	Motivated by the assumptions that first language (L1) influence was found to be a very strong predictor of foreign accent degree in the pronunciation of second language learners and that increased experience in the second language (L2) may nurture improved recognition of the differences between the L1 and L2 segments, this study examines the effect of L1 and proficiency level on the perception of English monophthongs by Iraqi EFL learners. Iraqi learners of English who speak Baghdadi Arabic as their native language were recruited for the study. Their level of proficiency in English was measured with the Quick Placement Test (UCLES, 2001). Performance in the perception test revealed that Iraqi learners face different levels of difficulty in the perception of most monophthongs in English. The results showed prominent perceptual trends regardless of the learner's proficiency level for some vowels, suggesting strong L1 effect across all proficiency levels. The study also found that the perceptual abilities of EFL learners can be improved with more exposure to the L2. The errors made by Iraqi learners can be explained based on perceived similarity and distance between L2 and L1 vowel spaces.
format	Article
author	Al Abdely, Ammar Abdul-Wahab Ilyana Jalaluddin, Che An Abdul Ghani, Yap, Ngee Thai
spellingShingle	Al Abdely, Ammar Abdul-Wahab Ilyana Jalaluddin, Che An Abdul Ghani, Yap, Ngee Thai First language and proficiency level effects on English vowel perception by Iraqi learners of English in Malaysia
author_facet	Al Abdely, Ammar Abdul-Wahab Ilyana Jalaluddin, Che An Abdul Ghani, Yap, Ngee Thai
author_sort	Al Abdely, Ammar Abdul-Wahab
title	First language and proficiency level effects on English vowel perception by Iraqi learners of English in Malaysia
title_short	First language and proficiency level effects on English vowel perception by Iraqi learners of English in Malaysia
title_full	First language and proficiency level effects on English vowel perception by Iraqi learners of English in Malaysia
title_fullStr	First language and proficiency level effects on English vowel perception by Iraqi learners of English in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed	First language and proficiency level effects on English vowel perception by Iraqi learners of English in Malaysia
title_sort	first language and proficiency level effects on english vowel perception by iraqi learners of english in malaysia
publisher	Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
publishDate	2016
url	http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10994/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10994/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10994/1/17926-50922-1-SM.pdf
first_indexed	2023-09-18T19:59:03Z
last_indexed	2023-09-18T19:59:03Z
_version_	1777406725226233856

First language and proficiency level effects on English vowel perception by Iraqi learners of English in Malaysia

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