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An acoustic investigation of segmentals and rhythm in Philippine English
Author
Irwan Shah Shahruddin
Supervisor
Low, Ee Ling
Abstract
Even though there has been much research on Philippine English (PhilE) pronunciation, previous studies have mainly relied on impressionistic observations. There is a general paucity in the acoustic investigation of pronunciation in PhilE. In addition, while current studies adopt the lectal continuum in the description of PhilE phonetic features, it has been suggested that even within a similar lect of speakers, differences in pronunciation might still exist.
The present study attempts to fill these gaps by providing an acoustic investigation of segmentals and rhythm of PhilE. To achieve this, it aims to fulfil three main objectives. First, it contributes to the literature on English in the Philippines by presenting a comprehensive review of phonological features of Philippine English. Second, it attempts to investigate acoustically three aspects of pronunciation of PhilE, namely vowels, consonants and rhythm, to validate the phonological features identified in previous studies while hoping to uncover new phonetic features of PhilE. Third, it attempts to find out whether differences in pronunciation features exist between two groups of educated PhilE speakers, studying in two universities in Manila, namely a private university and public university. The thesis begins by introducing the background to the study, providing an overview of PhilE as a variety and reviewing relevant literature pertaining to the phonology of PhilE. It then reviews the literature on segmentals and rhythm, including acoustic characteristics of vowels, consonants and rhythm. Following that, it describes the details the methodology of the study, namely data collection, measurement of data and dealing with reliability issues surrounding data measurement. The next few chapters entails the conduct of acoustic investigation, and an analyses and findings on the investigation of PhilE pronunciation in terms of vowels, consonant and rhythm. Finally, it concludes the study by providing the summary, discussion and implications of the study.
While the present study presents an acoustic description of the vowels, consonants and rhythmic patterning of PhilE, differences between speakers from the private university and public university are not as clear-cut. In terms of vowels, differences can be seen in the quality and duration of vowel pairs from the two groups of PhilE speakers. With regard to consonants, the comparison of aspiration in stop consonants show mixed results, while rhoticity is consistent in non-prevocalic /r/ for both groups of speakers. As for rhythm, the rhythmic indices reveal the rhythm of both groups of PhilE speakers being more stress-based when compared to a syllable-based variety.
The present study also discusses phonetic features of PhilE that surface in the study, as well as some contributions and implications of the study. A previous study has implied that the acrolectal speakers of PhilE are not monolithic. Based on the findings of this study, an attempt to position PhilE in the Kachruvian framework and Schneider’s dynamic model of the evolution of postcolonial Englishes is made. In Schneider’s framework, the PhilE phonetic features seem to be stabilized at Phase 4.
The present study attempts to fill these gaps by providing an acoustic investigation of segmentals and rhythm of PhilE. To achieve this, it aims to fulfil three main objectives. First, it contributes to the literature on English in the Philippines by presenting a comprehensive review of phonological features of Philippine English. Second, it attempts to investigate acoustically three aspects of pronunciation of PhilE, namely vowels, consonants and rhythm, to validate the phonological features identified in previous studies while hoping to uncover new phonetic features of PhilE. Third, it attempts to find out whether differences in pronunciation features exist between two groups of educated PhilE speakers, studying in two universities in Manila, namely a private university and public university. The thesis begins by introducing the background to the study, providing an overview of PhilE as a variety and reviewing relevant literature pertaining to the phonology of PhilE. It then reviews the literature on segmentals and rhythm, including acoustic characteristics of vowels, consonants and rhythm. Following that, it describes the details the methodology of the study, namely data collection, measurement of data and dealing with reliability issues surrounding data measurement. The next few chapters entails the conduct of acoustic investigation, and an analyses and findings on the investigation of PhilE pronunciation in terms of vowels, consonant and rhythm. Finally, it concludes the study by providing the summary, discussion and implications of the study.
While the present study presents an acoustic description of the vowels, consonants and rhythmic patterning of PhilE, differences between speakers from the private university and public university are not as clear-cut. In terms of vowels, differences can be seen in the quality and duration of vowel pairs from the two groups of PhilE speakers. With regard to consonants, the comparison of aspiration in stop consonants show mixed results, while rhoticity is consistent in non-prevocalic /r/ for both groups of speakers. As for rhythm, the rhythmic indices reveal the rhythm of both groups of PhilE speakers being more stress-based when compared to a syllable-based variety.
The present study also discusses phonetic features of PhilE that surface in the study, as well as some contributions and implications of the study. A previous study has implied that the acrolectal speakers of PhilE are not monolithic. Based on the findings of this study, an attempt to position PhilE in the Kachruvian framework and Schneider’s dynamic model of the evolution of postcolonial Englishes is made. In Schneider’s framework, the PhilE phonetic features seem to be stabilized at Phase 4.
Date Issued
2022
Call Number
PE3502.P5 Irw
Date Submitted
2022