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Contains fulltext : 248462.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)

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Contains fulltext : 194051.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)

Contains fulltext : 186543.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) 22 p.

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Contains fulltext : 104352.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) 24 p.

In this study we present a speaker typology of word fi nal n-deletion in standard Dutch. Data are taken from a quasi-experimental study in which the factors word type, lexical item and right hand environment are systematically incorporated. The subjects are 160 Dutch language teachers at high school level and stratifi ed for community (the Netherlands vs. Flanders), region (four in each community), age (45) and sex. This study confi rms and extends a previous typology based on the relationship between the realization of word fi nal /n/ and the right hand environment. Three phonological processes are distinguished: liaison (high realization of [n] before a vowel), insertion (high realization of [n] before a pause) and deletion (strong deletion of [n] before a consonant). The new typology allows that speakers combine several phonological processes. This implies that a cluster of processes is involved in the realization and deletion of word fi nal /n/, and that speakers might differ in the (combination of) processes. Six types of speakers were distinguished, but in their distribution pattern only minor regional differences showed up.

Contains fulltext : 19469_measrevos.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) The relatively recent upsurge of the role of vocabulary in foreign language acquisition has gone hand in hand with a growing interest in vocabulary testing. Learners need a certain amount of vocabulary knowledge in order to be able to operate independently in the target language. The size of a one's vocabulary correlates strongly with one's other linguistic competences in the target language. Therefore, much recent work on vocabulary testing has focused on estimating how many words learners know. Two vocabulary size tests have seen wide recognition and application up till now: Nation's Vocabulary Levels Test and Meara's Yes/No Vocabulary Test. In this study the Yes/No Vocabulary Test is evaluated as a measure for the receptive vocabulary knowledge of French-speaking learners of Dutch. It concentrates on handling and suppressing the response bias that the test format seems to provoke in the test takers which threatens the test's validity. A number of variables (the test instruction, the computer interface, the test content, etc.) that could contribute to the validity of the Yes/No Vocabulary Test are investigated on the basis of theoretical considerations as well as experimental data. Finally, an alternative vocabulary test is presented that retains many of the characteristics of the Yes/No Vocabulary Test but outperforms it in circumventing the response bias problem. This new test is called the Recognition Based Vocabulary Test. As a main conclusion, this study emphasizes that validation research should include the interaction of the test task with the characteristics of the test takers and the testing context. Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen, 05 juli 2004 Promotor : Hout, R.W.N.M. van Co-promotores : Velde, H. Van de, Boers, F. 193 p.