Investigating Sudan University English Language Students’ Ability To Identify Intonation

Abstract

This study aims at knowing the degree of students’ knowledge concerning different tones and the tonic syllable in the intonation of English language. Moreover, it seeks to find out if this knowledge could be improved through teaching students these different tones and the tonic syllable. The objectives of this study are to determine to what extent students can identify various tones when hearing them, and if they can identify the tonic syllable. It also tries to show whether there is any statistical significant differences before studying intonation and after studying it. To achieve this aim the researcher selected a sample of 92 third year students, English Department, College of Languages at Sudan University of Science and Technology to be the target of the study. Then a pre-test was conducted to determine the students’ standard before studying intonation. Then a post-test was also conducted. The test was composed of 30 items of words and sentences, divided into three questions. When statistically analyzed, the results showed that students’ performance has improved regarding the three questions; it was found that the mean of the pre-test is 9.8 while the mean of the post is 15.4. It was also observed that the students had improved more in the level of sentences. This was obvious from the standard deviation in the ‘Pre’ it is (1.9) and in the post it is (1.7) That indicated improvement. This revealed the fact that the students strived to understand the meaning of the different tones more than just listening to them.