A realização de clusters iniciais do inglês por aprendizes potiguares de ile

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the realization of initial cluster s + C by Potiguar students of ESL. The research will be theoretically grounded by the Exemplar Models According to it is possible to say that “in the process of learning of a second language, we relate the mother tongue sound patterns to the unknown ones of the second language” (CRISTÒFARO-SILVA, 2006). Our main question is: do Potiguar learners of ESL produce initial clusters satisfactorily and which contexts can influence its production? Studies about the phonological component regarding ESL shows that Brazilian students have difficulties in dealing with initial clusters or consonants in coda position (VITÓRIA, 2007). However, our hypothesis is that Potiguar learners present no considerable difficulties over initial clusters in ESL, under the influence of linguistic and extra-linguistic variables. It is a cross-sectional quantitative study with 16 informants that resides in Caraúbas/RN and surroundings that range from beginner to advanced students of ESL. To verify the linguistics variables: syllabic type and voicing and the extra-linguistic ones: sex and language exposuretime, a reading experiment was used in order to condition students to produce the initial clusters analyzed. The variables sex and language time exposure did not show significant differences in the statistics tests. On the other hand, the variables syllabic type and voicinghave direct influence on the production of initial clusters by Potiguar learners of ESL. The variable individual showed that, in general, Potiguar learners are dealing satisfactorily with initial clusters.