This article analyzes three studies undertaken to scientifically define error patterns, and outlines a methodology for investigating them. The studies concern native English speakers learning French. (Text is in French.) (CLK)

Speakers of many Oriental languages find it difficult to distinguish systematically between the /l/ and /r/ phonemes. Due to the importance of recognizing these contrasts in English, the teaching of these phonemes should be one of the foremost elements in teaching English as a second language to Asian students. (CFM)

Describes an algorithm for developing a domain knowledge base used in a Japanese language intelligent tutoring system. The domain knowledge represents a model of the expertise required of a student for proficiency in reading "katakana," a Japanese orthography. The algorithm described can generate a knowledge base of Japanese phonological…

Examines the perception of within-category allophonic differences in phonemes by both native speakers of English and Spanish learners of English as a Second language. Tries to show how representative different examples of a given phoneme category like /i/ are perceived by subjects in both groups. (Author/VWL)

Compared online processing of Catalan phonemic contrasts in Spanish-dominant and Catalan-dominant Catalan-Spanish bilingual undergraduate students. Results supported hypothesis that L1 (first language) shapes the perceptual system at early stages of development in such a way that it will determine the perception of nonnative phonemic contrasts,…

In examining reading comprehension in a second language (L2), I have demonstrated that the prevailing metaphor of transfer of skills is misleading, and that what happens is access to an already existing general cognitive skill. There is evidence in first language (L1) and in L2 that accessing this skill when reading in an alphabetic language…

This book remains a comprehensive, myth-debunking examination of how L1 features (orthographic system, phonology, morphology) can influence English L2 reading at the "bottom" of the reading process. It provides a thorough but very accessible linguistic/psycholinguistic examination of the lowest levels of the reading process. It is both theoretical…

This study examined the psycholinguistic implications of using either of two different types of orthography--syllabic and roman--in Native language programs for Cree children with regard to readability, learnability, and the transfer of reading skills to and from reading in an official language (English or French). This study can also be applied…

The specific problems involved in teaching pronunciation cannot be solved by the techniques of phonemic analysis alone. What is needed is an extension of these techniques to include the principles of textual phonetics. (CFM)

Proposes a scientific methodology for investigation into corrective phonetics, making use of a phonologic roster to classify foreign realizations according to a linguistic pertinence criterion. (Text is in French.) (AM)

This paper discusses the development of elicitation procedures for checking phoneme production in ESL learners. Two types of elicitation were tried: a picture-stimulus test and a regular question-type quiz, presented orally. Development of such procedures was judged quite feasible. (CHK)

In the absence of a comprehensive theory of the spoken language, the exploration of dynamic phonotactics--of actual running speech--can contribute to the understanding of oral language properties. Information based on spoken language data may also have fundamental implications for second-language learning. (24 references) (Author/VWL)

One goal of this longitudinal study was to examine whether the predictors of reading skills in Grade 3 would differ between English as a second language (ESL) students and native English-speaking (L1) students. Phonological processing, syntactic awareness, memory, spelling, word reading, and lexical access skills were assessed in kindergarten and…