LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 10 : 12 December 2010
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         K. Karunakaran, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.

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Interrogative Structures and Their Responses as
Speech Initiators and Fluency Booster for Second Language Learners

K. Sathya Sai, Ph.D. & G. Baskaran, Ph.D.

Abstract

It is observed that one of the major problems of learners of English as a Second Language is framing appropriate questions to seek information and giving responses in appropriate structures with appropriate tense. It is also found that when learners do not have this skill they feel reluctant to start conversation. This also affects their fluency in speech.

This paper is an experiment to find out how the knowledge and skills of framing questions will help the second language learners to overcome their initial difficulty in speaking the language. We also propose to investigate how learning to respond in appropriate structure that reflects the question would enhance idea generating capacity and fluency in speech of the second language learners of English.

The experiment started with drill on simpler question structures and the use of the same structure with slight alteration for responses. For example, verbal questions were tried first for different tenses as well as for active and passive sentences. Then students were gradually introduced to information-seeking questions from simple to complex structures. An intensive drill on words rearrangement for responses is essential to eliminate the inhibition in exchange of information. Adding discourse markers may also help enhance the fluency. In all these, however, student inquisitiveness is essential for speech initiation and prolonging the conversation with appropriate responses.

Application of the Study

This experiment in language learning process is based on the hypothesis that necessity to communicate or get information in the second language speaking environment presupposes that one must have the knowledge and skill to use interrogative structures properly to kick start the communication process and to sustain exchange of information.

As English has its own way of arranging words for framing questions and rearranging word for responses, a drill in the pattern is imperative to start and sustain the communication by means of exchange of ideas.

This precept has been tested in the study conducted at an engineering college in Tamilnadu, where learning English was primarily intended for achieving adequate communication skills in the second language in order to meet the professional requirements.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Colloquial versus Standard in Singaporean Language Policies | Listening, an Art? | Bilingual Persons with Mild Dementia - Spectrum of Cognitive Linguistic Functions | How does Washback Work on the EFL Syllabus and Curriculum? - A Case Study at the HSC Level in Bangladesh | Impact of Participative Management on Employee Job Satisfaction and Performance in Pakistan | Homeless in One's Own Home - An Analysis of Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things and Lakshmi Kannan's Going Home | Formative Influences on Sir Salman Rushdie | Role of Science Education Projects for the Qualitative Improvement of Science Teachers at the Secondary Level in Pakistan | Perception of Phoneme Contrast in Children with Hearing Impairment in Telugu | Motivation: Extrinsic and Intrinsic | Speech and Language Characteristics of Monozygotic Twins - A Case Study | Language Shift among the Tribal Languages of India - A Case Study in Bihar | Interrogative Structures and Their Responses as Speech Initiators and Fluency Booster for Second Language Learners | English as a Second Language - Learning Strategies and Teachability | Identifying an Unknown Language Bahai in and around Kanpur Area | Character Analysis of Andrews in Graham Greene's The Man Within | Shangshak Tangkhul and Pushing Tangkhul Numerals - A Comparative Presentation | A Review of A Course in Academic Writing by Professor Renu Gupta | Web-Based Training in Gaining Proficiency in English Language |A PRINT VERSION OF ALL THE PAPERS OF DECEMBER, 2010 ISSUE IN BOOK FORMAT. | HOME PAGE | CONTACT EDITOR languageinindiaUSA@gmail.com

K. Sathya Sai, Ph.D.
Department of English
Velammal Engineering College
Madurai 625 009
Tamilnadu, India
ksathyasai@gmail.com

G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
Research Centre in English
VHNSN College
Virudhunagar - 626 001
Tamilnadu, India
Rgbaskaran@Gmail.Com

 
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