Pronunciation is one of the controversial topics in the field of English language teaching as a second or foreign language. The aim of this study is to understand the attitudes of prep class students at Kastamonu University (state university) in Turkey towards the importance of pronunciation in language learning. Therefore, a pronunciation attitude inventory (PAI) was implemented in order to achieve this goal. 58 students who were from different majors such as business management, forest engineering, tourism and hotel management, etc. attended the research at total, and they were asked to give their opinions about 12 statements by using five-point Likert scale aiming at eliciting the attitudes of the participants from the strongest (always or almost always true of me) to the weakest (never or almost never true of me). The descriptive results of the answers were analyzed by using SPSS 16 program. The responses given to the items in the questionnaire that intended to figure out the attitudes of the participants towards correct pronunciation in learning foreign language prove that pronunciation conveys a significant role in the target language learning, and it needs to be specifically handled by the instructors throughout the teaching process.
Asher, J., & Garcia, R. (1969). The optimal age to learn a foreign language. Modern Language Journal, 53, 334-341.
Brown, H. D. (2006). Principles of language learning and teaching. (5th ed.). London: Pearson Longman.
Brown, H. D. (2000). Teaching by principles: An interactive approach to language pedagogy (2nd ed.). New York: Pearson Longman.
Burgess, J., & Spencer, S. (2000). Phonology and pronunciation in integrated language teaching and teacher education. System, 28, 191–215.
Cagıltay, K., Saran, M., & Seferoglu, G. (2009). Mobile assisted language learning: English pronunciation at learners' fingertips. Eurasian Journal of Educational 114. Research, 34, 97
Çakır, İ. (2012). Promoting correct pronunciation through supported audio materials for EFL learners. Energy Education Science and Technology. Part B: Social and Educational Studies. 4(3). 1801- 1812.
Celik, M. (2008). A description of Turkish-English phonology for teaching English in Turkey. Journal of Theory and Practice in Education, 4(1), 159-174.
Corder, S. P. (1992). A role for the mother tongue. In L. Selinker & S. M. Gass (Eds.), Language transfer in language learning (Revised ed., pp. 18-31). Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Demirezen, M. (2010). The causes of the schwa phoneme as a fossilized pronunciation problem for Turks. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2, 1567-1571. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.237
Deng, J., Holtby, A., Howden-Weaver, L., Nessim, L., Nicholas, B., Nickle, K., & Sun, M. (2009). English pronunciation research: The neglected orphan of second language acquisition studies. Prairie Metropolis Centre Working Paper Series, WP05-09, Edmonton, AB.
Dornyei, Z. (1998). Motivation in second and foreign language learning. Language Teaching, 31, 117- 135. doi: 10.1017/S026144480001315X
Elliott, A. R. (1995). Field independence / dependence, hemispheric specialization, and attitude in relation to pronunciation accuracy in Spanish as a foreign language. The Modern Language Journal, 79(3), 356-371.
Elliott, A. R. (1995). Foreign language phonology: Field independence, attitude, and the success of formal instruction in Spanish pronunciation. The Modern Language Journal, 79(4), 530-542.
Foote, J. A., Holtby, A. K., & Derwing, T. M. (2011). Survey of the teaching of pronunciation in adult ESL programs in Canada. TESL Canada Journal, 29(1), 1-22.
Gass, S. M., & Selinker, L. (2008). Second language acquisition: An introductory course. (3rd ed.). New York: Routledge.
Granena, G., & Long, M. H. (2012). Age of onset, length of residence, language aptitude, and ultimate L2 attainment in three linguistic domains. Second Language Research, 29(3), 311-343. doi: 10.1177/0267658312461497
Hismanoglu, M. (2012). Teaching word stress to Turkish EFL (English as a foreign language) learners through internet-based video lessons. US-China Education Review, 1, 26-40. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED530678.pdf
Hismanoglu, M. (2009). The pronunciation of the inter-dental sounds of English: an articulation problem for Turkish learners of English and solutions. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1, 1697-1703. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2009.01.301
Krashen, S. D. (1982). Principles and practice in second language acquisition. New York: Pergamon.
Lenneberg, E. H. (1967). Biological foundations of language. New York: Wiley.
Liu, Q. (2011). Factors influencing pronunciation accuracy: L1 negative transfer, task variables and individual aptitude. English Language Teaching, 4 (4), 115-120. doi: 10.5539/elt.v4n4p115
Morley, J. (1991). The pronunciation component in teaching English to speakers of other languages. TESOL Quarterly, 25 (3), 481-520. doi: 10.2307/3586981
Nakazawa, K. (2012). The effectiveness of focused attention on pronunciation and intonation training in tertiary Japanese language education on learners' confidence. International Journal of Learning, 18 (4), 181-192. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/195126
Nunan, D. (1998). Second Language Teaching and Learning. Boston, MA: Heinle ELT.
Otlowski, M. (1998). Pronunciation: What are the expectations? The Internet TESL Journal, 4 (1). Retrieved from http://iteslj.org/Articles/Otlowski-Pronunciation.html
Piske, T., MacKay, I. R. A., & Flege, J. E. (2001). Factors a4ecting degree of foreign accent in an l2: a review. Journal of Phonetics, 29, 191-215. doi: 10.006/jpho.2001.0134
Suter, R. W. (1976). Predictors of pronunciation accuracy in second language learning. Language Learning, 26, 233-253.
Asher, J., & Garcia, R. (1969). The optimal age to learn a foreign language. Modern Language Journal, 53, 334-341.
Brown, H. D. (2006). Principles of language learning and teaching. (5th ed.). London: Pearson Longman.
Brown, H. D. (2000). Teaching by principles: An interactive approach to language pedagogy (2nd ed.). New York: Pearson Longman.
Burgess, J., & Spencer, S. (2000). Phonology and pronunciation in integrated language teaching and teacher education. System, 28, 191–215.
Cagıltay, K., Saran, M., & Seferoglu, G. (2009). Mobile assisted language learning: English pronunciation at learners' fingertips. Eurasian Journal of Educational 114. Research, 34, 97
Çakır, İ. (2012). Promoting correct pronunciation through supported audio materials for EFL learners. Energy Education Science and Technology. Part B: Social and Educational Studies. 4(3). 1801- 1812.
Celik, M. (2008). A description of Turkish-English phonology for teaching English in Turkey. Journal of Theory and Practice in Education, 4(1), 159-174.
Corder, S. P. (1992). A role for the mother tongue. In L. Selinker & S. M. Gass (Eds.), Language transfer in language learning (Revised ed., pp. 18-31). Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Demirezen, M. (2010). The causes of the schwa phoneme as a fossilized pronunciation problem for Turks. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2, 1567-1571. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.237
Deng, J., Holtby, A., Howden-Weaver, L., Nessim, L., Nicholas, B., Nickle, K., & Sun, M. (2009). English pronunciation research: The neglected orphan of second language acquisition studies. Prairie Metropolis Centre Working Paper Series, WP05-09, Edmonton, AB.
Dornyei, Z. (1998). Motivation in second and foreign language learning. Language Teaching, 31, 117- 135. doi: 10.1017/S026144480001315X
Elliott, A. R. (1995). Field independence / dependence, hemispheric specialization, and attitude in relation to pronunciation accuracy in Spanish as a foreign language. The Modern Language Journal, 79(3), 356-371.
Elliott, A. R. (1995). Foreign language phonology: Field independence, attitude, and the success of formal instruction in Spanish pronunciation. The Modern Language Journal, 79(4), 530-542.
Foote, J. A., Holtby, A. K., & Derwing, T. M. (2011). Survey of the teaching of pronunciation in adult ESL programs in Canada. TESL Canada Journal, 29(1), 1-22.
Gass, S. M., & Selinker, L. (2008). Second language acquisition: An introductory course. (3rd ed.). New York: Routledge.
Granena, G., & Long, M. H. (2012). Age of onset, length of residence, language aptitude, and ultimate L2 attainment in three linguistic domains. Second Language Research, 29(3), 311-343. doi: 10.1177/0267658312461497
Hismanoglu, M. (2012). Teaching word stress to Turkish EFL (English as a foreign language) learners through internet-based video lessons. US-China Education Review, 1, 26-40. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED530678.pdf
Hismanoglu, M. (2009). The pronunciation of the inter-dental sounds of English: an articulation problem for Turkish learners of English and solutions. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1, 1697-1703. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2009.01.301
Krashen, S. D. (1982). Principles and practice in second language acquisition. New York: Pergamon.
Lenneberg, E. H. (1967). Biological foundations of language. New York: Wiley.
Liu, Q. (2011). Factors influencing pronunciation accuracy: L1 negative transfer, task variables and individual aptitude. English Language Teaching, 4 (4), 115-120. doi: 10.5539/elt.v4n4p115
Morley, J. (1991). The pronunciation component in teaching English to speakers of other languages. TESOL Quarterly, 25 (3), 481-520. doi: 10.2307/3586981
Nakazawa, K. (2012). The effectiveness of focused attention on pronunciation and intonation training in tertiary Japanese language education on learners' confidence. International Journal of Learning, 18 (4), 181-192. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/195126
Nunan, D. (1998). Second Language Teaching and Learning. Boston, MA: Heinle ELT.
Otlowski, M. (1998). Pronunciation: What are the expectations? The Internet TESL Journal, 4 (1). Retrieved from http://iteslj.org/Articles/Otlowski-Pronunciation.html
Piske, T., MacKay, I. R. A., & Flege, J. E. (2001). Factors a4ecting degree of foreign accent in an l2: a review. Journal of Phonetics, 29, 191-215. doi: 10.006/jpho.2001.0134
Suter, R. W. (1976). Predictors of pronunciation accuracy in second language learning. Language Learning, 26, 233-253.
Çakır, İ., & Baytar, B. (2014). Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 10(1), 99-110.
AMA
Çakır İ, Baytar B. Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies. Nisan 2014;10(1):99-110.
Chicago
Çakır, İsmail, ve Birtan Baytar. “Foreign Language learners’ Views on the Importance of Learning the Target Language Pronunciation”. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies 10, sy. 1 (Nisan 2014): 99-110.
EndNote
Çakır İ, Baytar B (01 Nisan 2014) Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies 10 1 99–110.
IEEE
İ. Çakır ve B. Baytar, “Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation”, Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, c. 10, sy. 1, ss. 99–110, 2014.
ISNAD
Çakır, İsmail - Baytar, Birtan. “Foreign Language learners’ Views on the Importance of Learning the Target Language Pronunciation”. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies 10/1 (Nisan 2014), 99-110.
JAMA
Çakır İ, Baytar B. Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies. 2014;10:99–110.
MLA
Çakır, İsmail ve Birtan Baytar. “Foreign Language learners’ Views on the Importance of Learning the Target Language Pronunciation”. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, c. 10, sy. 1, 2014, ss. 99-110.
Vancouver
Çakır İ, Baytar B. Foreign language learners’ views on the importance of learning the target language pronunciation. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies. 2014;10(1):99-110.