Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.32728/tab.18.2021.8
Production of the Japanese moraic nasal /N/ by speakers of Croatian
Dragana Špica
Abstract
The Japanese moraic nasal /N/ is a subspecified nasal segment with a special status in the Japanese sound system. It has various realisations depending on the context. For Japanese language students whose first language is Croatian, /N/ can pose a challenge as it involves phonological processes that do not exist in their mother tongue. The aim of this paper is to determine empirically how their production of /N/ deviates from the standard in 8 contexts in which /N/ occurs. For that purpose, a survey was conducted involving 24 students of the Juraj Dobrila University in Pula, 14 at the beginner and 9 at the intermediate level. The data showed the errors of various frequencies in the pronunciation of /N/ before pause, semivowels, fricatives and other sounds. A highly frequent error with a phonological significance was detected in an intervocalic position, at both levels of learning. Errors regarding /N/ in front of semivowels, fricatives and other consonants did not show phonological, but only phonetic significance.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
265774
URI
Publication date:
24.11.2021.
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