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A Comparison Of Beijing And Taiwan Mandarin Tone Register: An Acoustic Analysis Of Three Native Speech Styles, Richard Christen Torgerson Aug 2005

A Comparison Of Beijing And Taiwan Mandarin Tone Register: An Acoustic Analysis Of Three Native Speech Styles, Richard Christen Torgerson

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the possibility of pitch and tone register differences between native speakers of Taiwan and Beijing Mandarin by means of an acoustic analysis of three speech styles. Speech styles included spontaneous interview, spontaneous descriptive, and controlled read sentential speech. Data analysis included long segments of recorded speech in order to discern any statistically significant pitch register differences between the two dialects. Speech style and read tones were also analyzed. Results suggest that tones produced in Taiwan Mandarin are in a slightly lower register than those produced in Beijing Mandarin. Surprisingly, speech style was not a significant predictor of …


The Effect Of A Study Abroad On Acquiring Pragmatics, Johanna Katherine Brown Jul 2005

The Effect Of A Study Abroad On Acquiring Pragmatics, Johanna Katherine Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Pragmatics in Arabic needs to be studied for two main reasons: first, the large cultural difference between American and Middle Eastern society; and second, the recent surge in demand for Arabic speakers in the US. Especially in regard to refusals, what is acceptable in America is rarely acceptable in Arabic speaking countries. There are very few occasions when refusal of an offering of food or other hospitalities is acceptable. Arab culture requires one to provide family members with anything they need, including money. If that is not possible it is required to find the means for what they need. American …


Teacher Training Via Digital Apprenticeship To Master Teachers Of Arabic: Exposure, Reflection, And Replication As Instruments For Change In Novice Instructor Teaching Style, Jeremy L. Palmer Jul 2005

Teacher Training Via Digital Apprenticeship To Master Teachers Of Arabic: Exposure, Reflection, And Replication As Instruments For Change In Novice Instructor Teaching Style, Jeremy L. Palmer

Theses and Dissertations

The Modern Language Association (MLA) recently reported that from 1998 to 2002 there was a 92% increase in Arabic programs throughout the United States. With the increase in media coverage of current events in the Middle East, more and more students are desiring to learn about the region's languages and cultures. More teachers of Arabic are needed to meet this growing demand for Arabic instruction. This thesis investigates whether deliberate intervention via explicit and implicit exposure to the instructional behavior, skills, and strategies of master teachers of Arabic, combined with replication thereof, as well as critical personal reflection, positively alters …