درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

In light of the fact that L2 pronunciation errors are often caused by the transfer of well-established L1 sound systems, this paper examines some of the outstanding phonological differences between Persian and English. Comparing segmental and supra-segmental aspects of both languages, this study also discusses several problematic areas of pronunciation facing Iranian learners of English. To reach such a goal, thirty EFL learners were randomly selected from three levels of beginning, intermediate, and advanced students enrolled for the Fall term in 2008 in one of the private institutes in Shiraz. Their pronunciations of a list of 40 words and 8 sentences were analyzed through read-aloud task followed by an interview. The words have been recorded though a computer-based files adjusted for voice. The result of the data analysis indicated that our EFL learners at three levels confront considerable problems in areas that are absent in their mother tongue or converged into one item which is technically termed as coalescence. In order to compensate for the difficulties encountered by our EFL learners, we as teachers should integrate pronunciation teaching in our classroom syllabi so that they will become conscious of the differences in the sound system of the two languages. In this way, the Persian learners of English will be helped to become proficient speakers of English with rare or no residue of foreign accent in the pronunciation of target words, phrases, or sentences, thereby leading to more intelligibility of their utterances.

A critical discourse analysis (CDA) of English language teaching (ELT) textbooks can provide a theoretical description of existing ideological effects in the texts and a means to link linguistic and social practices. This study, thus, seeks to evaluate Summit 2B (i.e., the advanced book of Top Notch series) with a focus on the representation of male and female social actors. In so doing, this study drew on van Leeuwen’s (1996) social actor framework and Halliday’s (2004) transitivity model. To achieve the purpose of this study, content analysis was first carried out in the corpora obtained from the aforementioned textbook to find out the frequency and proportion of various social actors. The results obtained from the tests of significance (i.e., chi-square tests) and the qualitative data analyses revealed that there were some significant differences between males and females concerning role allocation (i.e., activation, subjection, and beneficialization), substitution (personalization/impersonalizaton), and personal pronouns. Compared with females, males were represented as more active, energetic, independent, and assertive forces; males were represented more frequently and placed in high-status positions; they were also individualized more frequently. The results indicated that though females and males were almost equally informalized and indetermined, there was not much serious attempt to eliminate the gender bias in Summit, used as a substitute for other ELT textbooks used in private language institutes in Iran. The findings suggest that textbook writers and publishers should be more cautious about the gender discourse, along with other criteria making ELT textbooks work, because gender bias can affect language learners’ perception and preference for the choice of language in second or foreign (L2) communication.

Un certain vocabulaire politique persan a vu le jour dès l’avènement de la Révolution islamique en Iran et depuis, il n’a cessé de se multiplier et d’étendre ses champs d’application aussi bien dans les médias que les milieux et les instances politiques suite à la fondation de nouvelles institutions gouvernementales et non gouvernementales, à la création de nouveaux postes, aux événements politiques, économiques et sociaux qui ont lieu sur l’échelle nationale et internationale, sans oublier les dates phares qui ont marqué le calendrier postrévolutionnaire de notre pays. Cette néologie révolutionnaire se répercute dans le monde entier par la voix des médias, ce qui exige leur traduction en diverses langues. La présente étude s’intéresse à examiner l’origine, la fréquence et l’emploi de cette terminologie prescriptive qui s’effectue constamment dans un cadre irano-islamique : deux sources dans lesquelles est plongée la langue persane pratiquée actuellement en Iran, vu la situation sociopolitique. Dans un deuxième temps, nous cherchons à voir si tous ces vocables sont traduisibles ou non.