ERIC Number: EJ1420857
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 28
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1934-5275
Seeing Speech: Using Praat to Visualize Hul'q'umi'num' Sounds
Sonya Bird; Rae Anne Claxton; Maida Percival
Language Documentation & Conservation, v17 p297-324 2023
As is typical across Turtle Island, the Hul'q'umi'num' (Coast Salish) language revitalization movement is being carried by adult language learners (Haynes 2010; McIvor 2015) but becoming a proficient Hul'q'umi'num' speaker is challenging given the complexity of its sound system. In this paper, we share our experiences using the speech analysis software Praat (Boersma & Weenink 2018) to help in our pronunciation work. We describe the types of pronunciation patterns that can benefit from Praat-based speech visualization, including whole sound adjustments, glottalization adjustments, and timing adjustments. We then discuss how this tool has helped us, by providing tangible feedback on our speech, by allowing us to learn by observing and modelling (a more gentle and culturally appropriate form of learning than explicit instruction), and by learning from Elders through their voices, even when they are not able to be present during pronunciation sessions. In our experience, these benefits combine to increase the confidence that learners feel in working on their pronunciation and therefore in becoming more proficient speakers. [This article was written with Luschiimtunaat, S-hwutstus, Squtxulenuhw, and Linguistics 830 students.]
Descriptors: Speech Communication, Language Maintenance, Language Research, Documentation, Language Proficiency, Pronunciation Instruction, American Indian Languages, Feedback (Response), Teaching Methods, Culturally Relevant Education, Visualization, Audio Equipment, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Adult Education, American Indians, Foreign Countries
National Foreign Language Resources Center at University of Hawaii. Department of Linguistics, UHM Moore Hall 569, 1890 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822. Fax: 808-956-9166; e-mail: ldc@hawaii.edu; Web site: https://nflrc.hawaii.edu/ldc/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A