In this study the author will focus on the second generation, their children, who were all born and raised in Germany, to see if the influence of the Turkish culture through their parents and the influence of the German culture which they were born into, has an effect on their pronunciation in their parent’s language.
Another observation that inspired this research is the following. Native Turkish speakers living in Turkey are usually quick in realizing whether or not a person is a bilingual German-Turkish person because of the way German-Turkish people use long and short vowels. The Turkish language does not have as many long vowels as the German language. Her prediction is that by being German-dominant speakers and thus being used to a stress-timed language the German-Turkish speakers will have trouble producing the right duration of vowels in Turkish.
In the research the author does not only want to analyze the way German-dominant bilingual speakers of Turkish produce vowels but also see if there is any correlation between the way they see themselves in regard to the Turkish language and culture. Other researchers have also laid their focus on the concern for pronunciation accuracy or the desire to sound native-like but as afore mentioned the focus will be on the attitude towards the language and culture. Because there is hardly one dominant opinion about the influence of attitude towards the production of a language, she also hopes to help to further understand this relationship. This will also be interesting when projected to language acquisition in general. Can people who have a better attitude towards the language and culture of their target language acquire said language more easily? Can the heritage language and the dominant culture in which the learners live hinder or further the language acquisition?
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Previous Research
- 2.1 Research on Attitude
- 2.3 German-Turkish culture
- 3. Participants and Methods
- 3.1 Participants' profiles
- 3.2 Data collection
- 4. Results
- 4.1 Questionnaire
- 4.2 Vowel Duration in Turkish
- 5. Discussion
- 5.1 Results of Attitude towards Turkish Language and Culture
- 5.2 Vowel Duration in Turkish
- 5.3 Relation of Attitude found in Questionnaire and the Vowel Duration
- 6. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This study investigates the correlation between the attitude of German-dominant bilingual Turkish speakers towards Turkish language and culture and their pronunciation of Turkish vowels. The research aims to determine if a positive attitude correlates with more native-like pronunciation. It also explores the influence of being raised in a German-dominant environment on the pronunciation of a heritage language.
- Influence of attitude on pronunciation accuracy in a heritage language.
- The impact of a dominant language (German) on the pronunciation of a heritage language (Turkish).
- Correlation between attitudes towards a language and culture and pronunciation skills.
- Examination of vowel duration in Turkish among German-dominant bilingual speakers.
- Analysis of the German-Turkish cultural context and its influence on language use.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the research question, focusing on the unclear relationship between attitude and phonological attainment in bilingual speakers. The author observes that German-Turkish bilinguals often exhibit distinct vowel pronunciations, prompting an investigation into the role of attitude toward Turkish language and culture in shaping their pronunciation. The study hypothesizes a positive correlation between positive attitudes and native-like pronunciation.
2. Previous Research: This chapter reviews existing research on attitude and its impact on language acquisition and pronunciation. It defines attitude according to Rokeach, outlining its cognitive, affective, and evaluative dimensions. The chapter references studies on attitudes toward English in Malaysia, highlighting the potential interplay between perceived linguistic difficulty and attitude. Further, the chapter delves into the specifics of German-Turkish culture and language, noting the evolving societal perceptions of German-Turkish individuals and the unique development of Turkish in a European context.
3. Participants and Methods: This section details the methodology employed in the study. Four German-dominant bilingual Turkish speakers (two female, two male) aged 20-26, all born and raised in Germany, participated. Their profiles are briefly described. The data collection methods are outlined, although specific details are not provided in the excerpt.
4. Results: This chapter presents the findings from the study, divided into the analysis of the questionnaire data on attitudes and the analysis of vowel duration in the participants' Turkish speech. Specific results are not detailed in the excerpt.
5. Discussion: This chapter will interpret the results presented in Chapter 4. The interplay between the questionnaire results (attitude) and the observed vowel durations will be analyzed. The discussion will likely explore the significance of the findings within the context of bilingual language acquisition and the influence of cultural attitudes.
Keywords
Bilingualism, heritage language, Turkish, German, vowel pronunciation, attitude, language acquisition, culture, phonology, second language acquisition, German-Turkish culture, vowel duration, bilingual speech.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Study on the Correlation Between Attitude and Pronunciation in German-Dominant Bilingual Turkish Speakers
What is the main research question of this study?
This study investigates the correlation between the attitude of German-dominant bilingual Turkish speakers towards Turkish language and culture and their pronunciation of Turkish vowels. The research aims to determine if a positive attitude correlates with more native-like pronunciation.
What are the key themes explored in this study?
The study explores the influence of attitude on pronunciation accuracy in a heritage language, the impact of a dominant language (German) on the pronunciation of a heritage language (Turkish), the correlation between attitudes towards a language and culture and pronunciation skills, and the analysis of vowel duration in Turkish among German-dominant bilingual speakers. It also examines the German-Turkish cultural context and its influence on language use.
What is the methodology used in this study?
The study involved four German-dominant bilingual Turkish speakers (two female, two male) aged 20-26, all born and raised in Germany. Data collection methods were used, but specific details are not provided in this preview. The data analysis includes a questionnaire on attitudes and an analysis of vowel duration in the participants' Turkish speech.
What are the key findings (as summarized in the preview)?
Specific results are not detailed in this preview. However, the study analyzes data from a questionnaire assessing attitudes towards the Turkish language and culture and analyzes vowel duration in the participants' speech to explore the correlation between attitude and pronunciation.
How does this study relate to previous research?
The study reviews existing research on attitude and its impact on language acquisition and pronunciation, referencing studies on attitudes toward English in Malaysia and delving into the specifics of German-Turkish culture and language. It considers the cognitive, affective, and evaluative dimensions of attitude as defined by Rokeach.
What are the chapters included in this study?
The study includes an introduction, a literature review, a chapter on participants and methods, a results chapter, a discussion chapter, and a conclusion. Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of the research question and methodology.
What are the keywords associated with this study?
Bilingualism, heritage language, Turkish, German, vowel pronunciation, attitude, language acquisition, culture, phonology, second language acquisition, German-Turkish culture, vowel duration, bilingual speech.
What is the hypothesis of this study?
The study hypothesizes a positive correlation between positive attitudes towards Turkish language and culture and native-like pronunciation of Turkish vowels among German-dominant bilingual speakers.
What is the significance of this study?
This study contributes to the understanding of the complex interplay between attitude, cultural context, and pronunciation in heritage language acquisition. The findings may have implications for language teaching and bilingual education, particularly in contexts with significant heritage language populations.
- Quote paper
- Selin Izgi (Author), 2019, Influence of Attitude on the Pronunciation of Vowels in Turkish by bilingual German-dominant heritage-speakers of Turkish, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1005653
