EFL 학습자의 영어 발음 습득 분석: 영어 의문문의 초분절 발음 습득을 중심으로

Characteristics of EFL learners' English pronunciation: A focus on the acquisition of suprasegmental pronunciation of English interrogative sentences

This study explores how EFL learners acquire suprasegmental features in English questions through Form Focused Instruction (FFI). To identify effective methods for teaching these features, thirty-eight students were assigned to two types of classes: explicit and implicit FFI. Over twelve weeks, participants learned to pronounce English questions, with pre-tests, post-tests, and individual interviews to assess the impact of the instruction. The assessment results were evaluated by two native English teachers and analyzed using the R program. Findings reveal significant differences between acquiring suprasegmental pronunciation and morphological forms in English interrogative sentences. While sentence complexity plays a crucial role in learning the morphological forms, suprasegmental pronunciation depends on several factors such as specific pitch patterns, distinctions among suprasegmental elements, and cognitive processing. Learners readily acquired rising intonation and salient pitch patterns, showing greater progress in masteringpitch than in stress and duration in English interrogatives. Additionally, they struggled with choice and tag questions, which require an understanding of conversational context. Furthermore, explicit FFI was more effective than implicit FFI in helping learners acquire difficult pronunciation patterns. This research offers practical insights for teaching suprasegmental pronunciation in English interrogatives to EFL learners.