Preliminary communication
Positive Attitude of Croatian Standard Language as a Condition for its Successful Mastering
Marko Alerić
; Zagreb, Croatia
Tamara Gazdić-Alerić
; Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to prove the hypothesis that one important condition for successful standard language mastering is an individual's positive attitude to that standard language. This positive attitude includes the understanding of a standard's role and importance as a communication means of a wider language community. Research was conducted among 155 students of the University of Zagreb in 2007. Three groups were included: 91 students of Croatian Language and Literature (the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences), 29 students of Teacher Education Studies and 45 students of Preschool Teachers Studies (both at the Faculty of Teacher Education).
Research was based on a questionnaire with six groups of tasks. The students
had to choose between three answers stating their agreement, disagreement or
partial agreement to 25 statements. They had to define the Croatian
standard language, to produce three sentences which respect to its norms and
choose between yes and no answers for 42 sentences with respect
to noticed errors (19 sentences were error-free, 23 had one or more errors).
The purpose of the research was to identify the level of the mentioned attitude
compared to the level of their mastering of normative grammar. Parts of the
questionnaire were analyzed and the differences were observed with respect to
different statements in the questionnaire, as well as among the three groups of
students in various aspects. Students of Croatian Language and Literature gave
the highest percentage of positive answers.
In conclusion, methods were proposed which might contribute to a higher level
of awareness of the standard language importance as well as the need for
students to master it in order to contribute to its successful general mastering.
Keywords
attitude towards Croatian standard language; acquiring and learning Croatian standard language
Hrčak ID:
45250
URI
Publication date:
14.10.2009.
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