Contrastive Analysis of English and Persian Intonation Patterns: An Error Analysis Study on Iranian Undergraduate EFL Students

Abstract

Intonation patterns play a significant role in successful direct communication i.e. speaking in the target language. Some language learners generalize their native language patterns while speaking target language, in other words they make some pronunciation errors. In the present study, firstly, intonation patterns of English and Persian have been analyzed and discussed contrastively. Secondly, an error analysis study of intonation patterns on Iranian undergraduate EFL students carried out. In order to collect data the voices of thirty Iranian undergraduate EFL students while reading aloud an authentic English text have been recorded. Then their errors while using English intonation patterns have been identified. The results confirmed the predictions and showed that the subjects erred in using rise-fall pattern in the sentences containing two clauses more than other patterns. Whereas they did not err while applying rise intonation.