Assimilation Processes by Arab Learners of English1

Abstract

This study examines optional consonantal assimilation (harmony) processes as produced by Arab learners of English. Eight female learners were recruited and assigned to four groups in accordance with their level of fluency. All Learners were asked to read target phrases in carrier sentences twice: the first reading was at slow speech rate, and the second was at fast speech rate. It was predicted that Arab learners of English would apply assimilation at fast reading since Spoken Arabic does exhibit similar consonantal assimilation at word edges. In general, the results show that Arab learners of English chose not to apply consonantal assimilation neither at slow speech rate, predicted, nor at fast speech rate. Moreover, it was found that neither leanerfluency nor speech rate influenced the assimilation processes. The results are discussed in the view of contrastive analysis approach..