Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
German vowel production, learning environments, umlauted vowels
College
Humanities
Department
Germanic and Slavic Languages
Abstract
This study sought to compare pronunciation gains in German in three learning environments, focusing especially on the umlauted vowels, e.g., /ø:/ as in Schönheit ‘beauty’ and /y:/ as in üben ‘to practice.’ Our research aimed to answer the following questions: 1. In which learning environment do students make more improvement in vowel production during an 11-week period: on a Berlin Study Abroad (SA), living in the German House, or while taking German classes? And 2. To what extent do problems with production of umlauted vowels impact the way native speakers rate the pronunciation of learners’ vowels?
Recommended Citation
Burton, Anna Katharina and Smith, Dr. Laura C.
(2014)
"Comparing Gains in German Vowel Production Across Three Learning Environments,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014:
Iss.
1, Article 640.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/640