Influence of the Native Language on Sensitivity to Lexical Stress: Evidence from Native Arabic and Hebrew Speakers
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| Title: | Influence of the Native Language on Sensitivity to Lexical Stress: Evidence from Native Arabic and Hebrew Speakers |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Segal, Osnat, Kishon-Rabin, Liat |
| Source: | Studies in Second Language Acquisition. Mar 2019 41(1):151-178. |
| Availability: | Cambridge University Press. 100 Brook Hill Drive, West Nyack, NY 10994. Tel: 800-872-7423; Tel: 845-353-7500; Fax: 845-353-4141; e-mail: subscriptions_newyork@cambridge.org; Web site: https://journals.cambridge.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 28 |
| Publication Date: | 2019 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Adult Education |
| Descriptors: | Semitic Languages, Native Language, Metalinguistics, Phonology, Contrastive Linguistics, Language Processing, Short Term Memory, Auditory Discrimination, Reaction Time, Accuracy, Testing, Identification, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Foreign Countries, Adult Students, Language Proficiency, Language Attitudes, Student Attitudes, Auditory Stimuli |
| Geographic Terms: | Israel (Tel Aviv), Israel |
| DOI: | 10.1017/S0272263117000390 |
| ISSN: | 0272-2631 |
| Abstract: | Arabic stress is predictable, varies across words, and does not have a contrastive role, whereas, Hebrew stress although nonpredictable, carries contrastive value. Stress processing was assessed in speakers of the two languages at three processing levels: discrimination, short-term memory, and metalinguistic awareness. In Experiment 1, Arabic speakers with Hebrew as L2 (n = 15) and native Hebrew speakers (n = 15) were tested on discrimination and memory of stress placements. Arabic speakers had fewer correct responses and longer reaction times compared to Hebrew speakers. In Experiment 2, the influence of nonnative language acquisition on metalinguistic awareness of stress was assessed. Arabic speakers (n = 10) were less able to identify stress in their native and nonnative languages compared to Arabic speakers with advanced knowledge of English and Hebrew (n = 10) and Hebrew speakers (n = 10). Our findings support the assumption that variations in stress at the surface level of L1 are insufficient to facilitate awareness and memory for stress placement. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2019 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1212767 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Arabic stress is predictable, varies across words, and does not have a contrastive role, whereas, Hebrew stress although nonpredictable, carries contrastive value. Stress processing was assessed in speakers of the two languages at three processing levels: discrimination, short-term memory, and metalinguistic awareness. In Experiment 1, Arabic speakers with Hebrew as L2 (n = 15) and native Hebrew speakers (n = 15) were tested on discrimination and memory of stress placements. Arabic speakers had fewer correct responses and longer reaction times compared to Hebrew speakers. In Experiment 2, the influence of nonnative language acquisition on metalinguistic awareness of stress was assessed. Arabic speakers (n = 10) were less able to identify stress in their native and nonnative languages compared to Arabic speakers with advanced knowledge of English and Hebrew (n = 10) and Hebrew speakers (n = 10). Our findings support the assumption that variations in stress at the surface level of L1 are insufficient to facilitate awareness and memory for stress placement. |
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| ISSN: | 0272-2631 |
| DOI: | 10.1017/S0272263117000390 |
