Correctly producing the intonation, rhythm, and word stress of a language is crucial to reducing a foreign accent, avoiding social stigma, and effectively being understood by mother-tongue speakers. Yet, foreign-language learners often struggle with prosody due to substantial differences between languages. Even advanced learners tend to transfer prosodic patterns from their native language to the target language, leading to a foreign accent and communication difficulties.
Effective communication
Unlike grammar and vocabulary, prosody receives little attention in language education. However, it is essential for effective communication. For example, in English, the word "present" can mean either "a gift" or "to give a presentation" depending on the word stress. Similarly, in Spanish, the sentence “María quiere helado” can be interpreted as a question or a statement based on intonation.
Online tool
Together with her research team, Lieke van Maastricht will carry out a project that addresses the gap in research and teaching practice of foreign-language education, by creating an online tool. This tool, called the Prosodic Proficiency Test Battery will allow researchers, teachers, and students to quickly and automatically assess elements of prosody. These assessments provide valuable insights for the next steps in language learners’ development.
NWO OC-XS-grant
The Open Competition Domain SSH (XS) grant of NWO (Dutch Research Council) is designed to foster curiosity-driven and bold research in the social sciences and humanities, allowing for the rapid exploration of promising ideas. These grants, which can be up to €50,000, aim to support innovative and speculative initiatives that will contribute to the advancement of science.