Flourishing Creativity & Literacy - Investigating the Performance of Ilami EFL Teachers in Observing the English Intonational Patterns Based on Their Gender

Oct 15, 2026

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The study extracted 17 general patterns of English intonation and examined whether Ilami EFL teachers’ gender influences their ability to observe these patterns. Forty teachers in Ilam city participated through interviews on their recognition of the 17 intonation patterns, covering 20 male and 20 female participants. Chi-Square tests were applied, and data analysis was performed using SPSS. Results showed male teachers outperformed female teachers in observing rules of intonation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

1. Introduction

Advances in Language and Literary Studies ISSN: 2203-4714 Vol. 6 No. 2; April 2015 Australian International Academic Centre, Australia Flourishing Creativity & Literacy Investigating the Performance of Ilami EFL Teachers in Observing the English Intonational Patterns Based on Their Gender Malihe Rajabi Department of English Language Teaching, Islamic Azad University, Ilam Branch Pajouhesh Boulevard, Ilam, Iran Habib Gowhary (Corresponding author) Department of English Language Teaching, Islamic Azad University, Ilam Branch PO box 6931696876, Pajouhesh Boulevard, Ilam, Iran [E-mail: h_gowgary@yahoo.com](E-mail: h_gowgary@yahoo.com) Akbar Azizifar Department of English Language Teaching, Islamic Azad University, Ilam Branch Pajouhesh Boulevard, Ilam, Iran Doi:10.7575/aiac.alls.v.6n.2p.242 URL: [http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.6n.2p. 242](http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.6n.2p. 242) Received: 20/ 12/2014 Accepted: 23/02/2015 Abstract The current study extracted, first, 17 general patterns of intonation. Additionally, the present study investigated the roles that might be played by the gender of Ilami EFL teachers in observing the 17 patterns of intonation. Finally, the study determined if intonation as a suprasegmental feature of speech is affected by the gender of Ilami EFL teachers. The population of the study encompassed all male and female EFL teachers in Ilam city from which 40 teachers (20 males and 20 females) were surveyed on interviews for their observing of 17 general patterns of intonation. For inferential statistics, Chi-Square tests were conducted to analyze the data. Statistical analysis was run using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Accordingly, male teachers outperformed female teachers on observing the rules of intonation. Keywords: Suprasegmental aspects of speech, Intonation, EFL teachers 1. Introduction According to Yates (2013)" Pronunciation, once a mainstay of language teaching and language teacher education has long been ignored or relegated to elective status in EFL classroom and pronunciation is rarely incorporated into instructional objectives, and when it is taught is usually done so in an ad hoc fashion." However, considering the overarching role played by pronunciation in speech intelligibility, the need for practical training in teaching pronunciation is inevitable. In today's interconnected world, knowing English has been one of the inevitable parts of our lives. We judge people by the way they speak, consequently learners with good pronunciation may be judged competent, educated or knowledgeable. A broad definition of Pronunciation includes attention to particular sounds of language (segments) and the aspects of speech beyond the level of the individual sounds, (suprasegmentals) such as intonation, stress, phrasing, timing, rhythm suprasegmental aspects of language which are best learned as an integral part of language. Traditional approaches to pronunciation have often focused on segmental phonemes, as they are relate in some way to letters in writing. More recent approaches to pronunciation suggested that suprasegmental aspects of pronunciation may have the most effect on intelligibility for some speakers. Usually learners benefit from attention to both aspects. Baily (2003) stated that Suprasegmental or prosodic speech characteristics carry meaning differences but they operate "above"the segmental phonemes. Renewed interest in pronunciation in communicative approach focuses on phonological aspects of connected speech. This integrated approach to pronunciation teaching focuses on suprasegmental aspects of phonology. In fact it is the suprasegmental features that control the structure of information. The misuse or under-use of these features can cause the utterance to be understood in a way other than was intended, and can cause frustration, and possibly demotivation, from among prosodic features intonation is not only central

FAQs

What does the study aim to investigate?

The study investigates how Ilami EFL teachers observe 17 general patterns of English intonation and whether gender affects this observing performance.

How many teachers participated, and how were they surveyed?

The study surveyed 40 EFL teachers in Ilam city (20 males and 20 females) through interviews about their observing of the 17 intonation patterns.

What statistical method was used to analyze the data?

Chi-Square tests were used to analyze the data, and the analysis was conducted with SPSS.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Terk