The Perception-Based Study of a Weak Syllable in English Words Containing Weak-Strong Pattern by Korean Learners (I)

약강구조를 포함하는 영어단어에 대한 영어학습자의 약음절 지각과 반응시간(I)

The purpose of this study is to observe how Korean learners perceive an English weak syllable in words containing WS syllable pattern. According to the automated discrimination task using E-Prime, the ratio of correct answer(%) and reaction time of the stimuli with same syllable patterns were respectively higher and faster than those with different syllable patterns. Specifically, in the stimuli with different syllable patterns, the frequency(familiarity) of stressed word succeeding weak syllable and whether the weak syllable had coda in it were two important factors in distinguishing between a word with and without weak syllable. Even though the high English proficiency Koreans had faster reaction time than the low English proficiency Koreans, all Korean learners had a difficulty in perceiving the weak syllable at the beginning of a word.