Search

The present work analyses the importance of word recognition and reading fluency in reading comprehension at an intermediate schooling stage using a transversal descriptive design with a correlational approach. The participants were 109 Chilean sixth grade students between the ages of 10 to 11 displaying a typical intellectual development. Measurements were taken for the reading of words and pseudowords, reading out loud, and the comprehension of written texts. The results account for significant correlation of the recognition of words and reading fluency and comprehension. Moreover, the regression analysis shows that the prosodic features of segmentation and intonation in reading out loud are the most contributing elements to reading comprehension in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first "Prosodic Map of Chile", a long-term project aimed at documenting and describing (both phonetically and phonologically) the suprasegmental features of Chilean Spanish. In order to better appreciate the map's reach, a review of currently implemented similar prosodic maps is provided, including AMPER, ATLES and some others. This review considers what particular parameters are studied in each map, closely inspecting what are the foundations, directions and the overall reach of each one of them. The closing section provides a consideration of some freely available software tools designed to build maps, particularly OpenStreetMap, focusing on its potential for future international collaborative efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper presents initial findings regarding the analysis of rising intonation contours in final, broad focus declarative utterances recorded in Chiloé (Chile). These utterances-- unlike the great majority that have been reported in different varieties of Spanish and characterized by a falling nuclear configuration--exhibit a rising terminal pitch. The first acoustic data of conversational speech are analysed and preliminary phonological observations are made. Acoustic evidence of the rise is included, together with tentative phonological labelling and, finally, questions are raised and possibilities for further investigation are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]