ELTWeekly Vol. 6 Issue#1 | January 6, 2013 | ISSN 0975-3036
The primary purpose of this experiment is to determine the effect of reading development based on phonemic transcription and traditional orthography on the pronunciation of French as a second language. Sixteen level 1 French classes in Western New York State schools participated in the experiment in which the control and experimental classes completed six weeks of study of an introductory French text in which the first three units were transcribed for the experimental group along the lines of the International Phonetic Alphabet. Changes were made, as necessary, in order to create additional symbols resembling the traditional grapheme as closely as possible. Pronunciation tests were administered following the initial period, and statistical results are discussed. Concluding remarks confirm the belief that the effect of the written form of a language depends on the degree of correspondence which exists between the conventional orthography and the phonology of that language. (RL)