Contents

Acknowledgements

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Definition of Language Transfer-1

1.2 Reasons for the Study-1

1.3 Significance of the Study-2

1.4 Structure of This Thesis-2

Chapter Two Literature Review-3

2.1 Negative Transfer of Foreign Dialects to the Acquisition of English Pronunciation-3

2.2 Negative Transfer of Chinese Dialects to the Acquisition of English Pronunciation-3

Chapter Three Methodology-4

3.1 Subjects of the Study-4

3.2 Method-4

3.3 Purposes of the Survey-4

Chapter Four Negative Transfer of Luohe Dialect to the Acquisition of English Pronunciation-6

4.1 Negative Transfer to Consonants-6

4.2 Negative Transfer to Vowels-7

4.2.1 Negative Transfer to Monophthongs-7

4.2.2 Negative Transfer to Diphthongs-8

4.3 Negative transfer to Suprasegmental Features-8

4.3.1 Negative transfer to stress and rhythm-8

4.3.2 Negative Transfer to Intonation-8

4.4 Suggestions-9

Chapter Five Conclusion-11

5.1 Achievements-11

5.2 Limitations and suggestions for future study-11

References-12

Abstract

Previous studies on negative transfer to the acquisition of English pronunciation mainly focused on Sichuan dialect, Cantonese and Guilin dialect which are used by a large number of people, and few discussed the negative transfer of Luohe Dialect to the acquisition of English pronunciation. This thesis, based on recording, explains negative transfer of Luohe Dialect to the acquisition of English pronunciation from the aspects of consonants, vowels, and suprasegmental features. It shows that Luohe natives use /s/ /z/ /w/ to replace /tʃ/ /dʒ/ and /v/ which are missing in Luohe dialect, such vowels as /æ/ /e/ /ʌ/ /ai/ and /au/ are usually pronounced the same; intonation in Luohe dialect, at the most part, is always falling so as to the natives speak English without rising and falling which sounds very strange.

This thesis broadens the studying scope of negative transfer of dialects to the acquisition of English pronunciation. And it is beneficial for people with Luohe dialect to overcome the interference of the negative transfer and acquire sound English pronunciation.

Keywords:  English phonetics  Luohe dialect  phonetic acquisition  negative transfer