基于声学特征的英语单元音语音诊断测试探索

论文摘要

在语言测试领域,语音测试的研究相对于语言要素其他方面的研究来说,一直比较滞后。这跟语音测试的测试要素——语音能力有关。语音的物质性、语音物质属性的多元性、语音获得的特殊性,都使得语音测试变得相对困难。实施语音测试,往往采用个别面试的方式,评价也只能是主观性的。这样的测试操作一方面成本较高,另一方面还存在评分员信度问题。语音测试属于主观性测试,不可避免地会受到评分员主观因素及评分员自身评测水平的影响。因此其评测结果往往具有很强的主观性,信度难以得到保证,同时也无客观评价依据。并且现阶段的语音测试往往只对受试者的发音进行简单地评分,却忽略了语音测试作为一种诊断性测试,其主要功能和目的应为对受试者的发音进行诊断并提出改善建议。如何在语音测试中降低评分的主观性,提高评分信度,并有效地发现受试者的发音错误是语音测试研究的一个重要方面。本研究主要探讨以下三个问题:从声学语音学及实验语音学的角度出发,能否将元音的声学特征应用到英语元音诊断测试中?如何将元音的声学特征有效地应用于英语元音语音诊断测试?本研究中的基于声学特征的英语元音诊断测试是否具有较好的效度?本研究主要工作如下:(1)从声学语音学的角度出发,结合语音能力特殊的生理特性,提出将声学语音学中的共振峰与元音音色关系理论应用到语音诊断中;(2)利用Praat语音分析软件,对受试者的英语元音发音进行诊断测试,为语音测试评分提供可参考的客观评分标准,并检测出受试者发音错误原因所在,为改善其发音提供参考意见;(3)以英语六个主要的单元音为实验内容,设计了基于声学特征的英语元音诊断测试试验,对上述原理及软件在语音诊断测试中的应用进行有效性验证。实验结果表明,将元音的声学特征应用于英语元音诊断测试中具有很大的可行性;利用元音的共振峰值和声学元音图可以有效地对受试者的英语元音进行评测及诊断;本研究基于声学特征的英语元音诊断测试具有一定的效度。

论文目录

• 摘要
• Abstract
• CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
• 1.1 RESEARCH BACKGROUND
• 1.2 OBJECTIVE OF THIS STUDY
• 1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS STUDY
• 1.4 STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS
• CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW
• 2.1 DEFINITION OF PRONUNCIATION
• 2.2 UNDERSTANDING OF PRONUNCIATION COMPETENCE
• 2.2.1 Physiological and Psychological Competence of Pronunciation
• 2.2.2 The Input and Output Competence of Pronunciation
• 2.2.3 The Intellectual and Motor Skills of Pronunciation Competence
• 2.2.4 Pronunciation Competence in the Communicative Language Ability Framework
• 2.3 PURPOSES OF PRONUNCIATION TESTING
• 2.4 A BRIEF REVIEW OF PREVIOUS STUDIES OF PRONUNCIATION TEST
• 2.4.1 Distinction Between Pronunciation Recognition and Production
• 2.4.2 “Paper and Pencil”Test of Pronunciation
• 2.4.3 Atomistic Tests
• 2.4.4 Reflection on Written Test of Pronunciation
• 2.4.5 A New Type of Pronunciation Test Proposed by Shira Koren
• 2.4.6 ClearSpeak Adult Pronunciation Test
• 2.5 DEVELOPMENT OF ACOUSTIC PHONETICS AND EXPERIMENTAL PHONETICS
• 2.5.1 Acoustic Phonetics
• 2.5.2 Experimental Phonetics
• 2.6 APPLICATION OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY TO PRONUNCIATION TESTING
• CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH DESIGN AND RESEARCH PROCESS
• 3.1 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
• 3.2 RESEARCH THEORY AND TOOLS
• 3.2.1 Research Theory
• 3.2.2 Acoustic Analysis of Vowels
• 3.2.2.1 Cardinal Vowel Diagram
• 3.2.2.2 Definition of Formant and Its Calculation
• 3.2.2.3 Relation Between Formant Values of Vowels and Tongue Position
• 3.2.2.4 Formant Chart
• 3.2.2.5 Formant Data of English Vowels
• 3.2.3 Research Instruments and Statistical Device
• 3.3 EXPERIMENT DESIGN
• 3.3.1 Test Participants
• 3.3.2 Speech Materials
• 3.3.3 Raters and Qualifications
• 3.3.4 The Referenced Standard Pronunciation
• 3.3.5 Experiment Procedures
• 3.4 SUMMARY
• CHAPTER 4 DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
• 4.1 EXPERIMENT RESULTS IN THE FIRST STAGE
• 4.1.1 Formant Data
• 4.1.2 Rating Result
• 4.1.3 Results
• 4.2 EXPERIMENT RESULTS IN THE SECOND STAGE
• 4.2.1 Formant Data
• 4.2.2 Rating Result
• 4.2.3 Results
• 4.3 COMPARISON OF THE EXPERIMENT RESULTS IN BOTH STAGES
• 4.4 SUMMARY
• CHAPTER 5 DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS
• 5.1 DISCUSSION
• 5.2 IMPLICATIONS
• CONCLUSION
• 1. SUMMARY OF THE RESEARCH
• 2. LIMITATIONS
• 3. FURTHER RESEARCH
• REFERENCES
• APPENDIX A 攻读学位期间所发表的学术论文目录
• APPENDIX B 详细中文摘要
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS