In:
World Englishes, Wiley, Vol. 20, No. 1 ( 2001-03), p. 1-27
Abstract:
This paper investigates stress placement in the English of Spanish speakers, Nigerian English and Singapore English. This investigation reveals that they have in common several patterns of stress placement that are distinct from British or American English. We show that these patterns cannot be accounted for by transfer. A different explanation is suggested, one that explains the recurrent patterns in terms of English vowel duration. It is proposed that in determining stress in multisyllabic words, L2 speakers assess the duration of syllable nuclei and assign stress to the syllable containing the longest vowel. In contrast with transfer, which holds L2 speakers' first languages responsible, this proposal attributes the distinct patterns of stress placement to the target language, making possible a unified account of the shared patterns in the three varieties of English. As L2 speakers, regardless of their first languages, grapple with the same target language, it should have a similar effect, giving rise to the common patterns of stress placement in the three varieties of English.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0883-2919
,
1467-971X
DOI:
10.1111/weng.2001.20.issue-1
DOI:
10.1111/1467-971X.00193
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2001
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1495564-7
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2271256-2
SSG:
5,3
