engleski

Usage of verbotonal method on the example of correction of fricatives in Croatian

The paper discusses usage of verbotonal method in speech correction on the example fo Croatian as foreign language. The age of a child defined as critical period for language learning differs somewhat in different sources but overall conclusion of numerous articles is that the abbility to master a new language on different levels diminishes significantly in puberty. Prosody in foreign language speech, rhtym and intonation (so called global structure) proved to be the most difficult level to master. Specific challenge are the speech sounds that do not exist in the speaker's native language or they exist with somewhat different characteristics (the difference in matter or place of articulation etc.). Adult native speakers of Spanish attended individually a set of speech correction sessions with the aim to obtain acceptable pronunciation of one of Croatian fricatives. Each of the speakers recorded the same material before and after the correction sessions. In perceptive test, native speakers of Croatian verified acceptability of Spanish speakers pronunciation. The recordings have also been analyzed in programme for acoustic analysis Praat. Consistency of the results of perceptive test (as subjetive method) and acoustic analysis (as objective method) was obtained. Native Croatian speakers verified the pronunciation of the trained Spanish speakers as acceptable after correction and acoustic analysis showed voicing of the fricative. Usage of movement in verbotonal method (and especially during these correction sessions) with the aim of improving pronunciation is also discussed.

verbotonal method, speech correction, fricatives, Spanish, Croatian

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