ERIC Number: EJ804983
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Sep
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0346-251X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Phonemic Repetition and the Learning of Lexical Chunks: The Power of Assonance
Lindstromberg, Seth; Boers, Frank
System: An International Journal of Educational Technology and Applied Linguistics, v36 n3 p423-436 Sep 2008
Knowledge of lexical chunks correlates positively with L2 proficiency. However, high estimates of the number of chunks in natural language have led to scepticism about the feasibility of large-scale chunk-learning on non-intensive, classroom-based courses. Furthermore, few proposals for chunk-teaching have looked beyond the noticing stage. One exception, designed to put learners on the path to "remembering", is to have them associate figurative expressions with mental images. However, this procedure can only apply to figurative expressions and so cannot help with the non-figurative chunks with which phraseology also abounds. In the present paper, we therefore explore complementary means of facilitating chunk-learning. Evidence has been reported that L2 chunks which exhibit alliteration are significantly easier for learners to remember than similar, non-repetitive chunks. In the present paper, we demonstrate that an evidently less salient kind of phonemic repetition, assonance, also has significant mnemonic effect. The relevance of this for language pedagogy is underscored by estimates suggesting that phonemic repetition, including assonance, is ubiquitous in (English) phraseology. (Contains 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Phonemics, Language Proficiency, Phrase Structure, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Figurative Language, Mnemonics, Teaching Methods, English (Second Language)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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