The rise tone in short story narration: A case study of Malay ESL learners
Despite its importance in communication, ESL learners often face difficulties in using intonation appropriately due to cross-linguistic suprasegmental differences. Moreover, intonation is difficult for them to learn because its functions can change according to context (Mok, Yin, Setter & Mat...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2020
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/81159/14/81159%20abstract.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/81159/13/81159%20slides.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/81159/ |
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| Summary: | Despite its importance in communication, ESL learners often face difficulties in using intonation
appropriately due to cross-linguistic suprasegmental differences. Moreover, intonation is difficult for
them to learn because its functions can change according to context (Mok, Yin, Setter & Mat Nayan, 2016). Given these challenges, the objective of this study was to investigate the application of one type
of intonation – the rise tone – in the speech of such speakers. Sixty Malay ESL learners, comprising 30
males and 30 females, were asked to narrate a short story individually based on a series of pictures
presented to them. Their speech samples were analysed auditorily and acoustically using Praat and
their tone functions were identified using Brazil’s (1985, 1997) Discourse Intonation model. It was
found that the learners applied the tone when they attempted to: (i) convey new and shared
information, (ii) continue speaking, and (iii) present items in a list. In addition, there was a significant
gender-based difference in the speakers’ application of the tone to convey new and shared
information and to continue speaking. Findings may contribute details to Malaysian English
phonology and shed more light on tone usage among ESL speakers. |
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