This dissertation has been microfilmed exactly as received ® 7-2402 ALATIS, James Efstathios, 1926- THE AMERICAN ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION OF GREEK IMMIGRANTS: A STUDY IN LANGUAGE CONTACT WITH PEDAGOGICAL IMPLICATIONS. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1966 Language and Literature, linguistics University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan ^ Copyright by JAMES EFSTATHIOS ALATIS 1967 THE AMERICAN ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION OF GREEK IMMIGRANTS: A STUDY IN LANGUAGE CONTACT WITH PEDAGOGICAL IMPLICATIONS DISSERTATION Presented In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy In the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By James E; A latis, A.B., M.A The Ohio State University 1966 Approved by: Ar-*-**0-** /ft* A dviser d v i s e r gy Department of English "We are ell Greeka. Our laws, our literature, our religion, our arte have their roots In Greece." •-Percy Bysshe Shelley 11 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express ray deep gratitude to Professor Francis Lee Utley for his Invaluable advice and guidance. Without his contin­ uous encouragement and understanding, this study would never have been possible. Since he introduced toe to the field of English Linguistics, I have benefited again and again from his wide-ranging knowledge, his teaching, and his friendship. Professor Robert M. Estrlch wrote me an important letter at a crucial moment In my career, which inspired me to make the decision that resulted In the actual writing of this dissertation. I shall never forget him for this. 1 am grateful also to Dr. Kenneth W. Mlldenberger, Director of Programs, Modern Language Association of America (formerly of the U. S. Office of Education) for sponsoring course work at Georgetown University related to this dissertation, and for arranging a leave of absence In the summer of 1965 which enabled me to do the necessary research and field work preliminary to this study. His constant encouragement and friendship are very much appreciated. 1 owe a heavy debt of gratitude to Dr. Robert Lado, Father Gerard Canpbell, Father Bryan McGrath, and Father Francis Dlneen, all of Georgetown University, for their confidence in me while this study was being couple ted. i l l Professor Eric Hamp, his wife Margot, and Mrs. George Faust, were kind enough to show me the h o s p ita lity of th e ir home in the summer o f 1965, while Professor Hamp and I discussed important aspects of this disserta­ tion. I owe them more than hospitality. Professor Robert DiPietro introduced me to contrastive linguistics and helped me plan this dissertation at the outset. 1 am Indebted to him for his friendship and his scholarly advice. 1 am deeply indebted to all these, to my informants, and many others (see Appendix A) for all their help. I only hope that each person who assisted in any way w ill find his interest and efforts justified in the pages that follow. Lastly, 1 would like to acknowledge a debt I can never repay to informant Nunber 11 who unfortunately did not live to see this disserta­ tion completed. iv VITA July 13( 1926 Boxn - Weirton, West Virginia 1 9 4 8 . A.B., West Virginia University, Morgantown, W. Va. 1953 . • . M.A., The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1953-1955 . • . Graduate Assistant, Department of English, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1955-1957 . Fulbright Lecturer In English as a Foreign Language, University of Athens, Greece 1957-1959 . Assistant in English, Department of English, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1959-1961 . • . English Testing and Teaching Specialist, International Educational Exchange Service, U. S. Department of State, Washington, D. C. 1961-1965 • . Specialist for Language Research, Language Development Branch, U. S. Office of Education, Washington, D. C. 1965-1966 . Chief, Language Section, Research Branch, U. S. Office of Education, Washington, D. C. 1966 ...................... Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Linguistics, Institute of Languages and Linguistics, Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. PUBLICATIONS "The Americanization of Greek Names," Names. Septenber 1955 "The Department of State's Overseas Testing Program," HE News Bulletin. April, 1960 "Testing the English Proficiency of Foreign Students," Testing; Report of a Conference. The Center for Applied Linguistics, May 1961 v VITA--(Continued) "Our Own Language B arrier," American Education. December 1964 - January 1965, Vol. I, No. 1 "Opportunities for Service In State Educational Systems," On Teaching English to Sneakers of Other Languages. Series II, NAFSA, NCTE, MLA, SAA, and CAL, 1966 FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: English Linguistics and English. Professor Francis Lee Utley Old and Middle English. Professor Morton W. Bloomfield Phonetics and Phonemlcs. Professor Floyd Lounsbury, Summer Linguistic Institute, University of Michigan Morphology and Syntax. Professor Bernard Bloch, Sumner Linguistic Institute, University of Michigan Contrastive Linguistics. Professor Robert J. D1 Pietro, Georgetown University vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................................................................................ i l l LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................................................v i i l LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................ ix INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................ I Chapter I . THE SOCIO-CULTURAL SETTINGS OF THE MODERN GREEK-EN GLISH CONTACT.......................................................................... 22 I I . PHONEMIC ANALYSIS OF GREEK................................................................ 41 I I I . ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH SOUNDS................................................................ 93 IV. CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS: THE TWO SYSTEMS IN CONFLICT .... 130 V. VERIFICATION OF FINDINGS..........................................................................164 CONCLUSION AND APPLICATIONS....................................................................................... 178 APPENDIX A .... ............................................... 188 APPENDIX B ..........................................................................................................................210 APPENDIX C ..........................................................................................................................222 BIBLIOGRAPHY..................................................................................................................... 226 v i i LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Immigration from Greece by Decadee. ............ *23 2* Decennial Imnigration to the U. S. from Greece, 1821-1940 According to Varloue Sources ........................................................... ..28 3. Greek Stock In the U. S., 1850-1960 .....................................................30 4. Per Cent Urban of the Greece-Born and the Native White of Greek or Mixed Parentage in the U .S ................................................ 32 5. Distribution of Greek-Americans, 1960 ................................................ 33 6. Greek Consonant Phonemes ..............................................................................62 7. Athenian Standard Greek In itial (and Medial) Two-Consonant C lu s te rs ............................................................................................................ 66 8. Modern Mainland Gredt In itial (and Medial) Two-Consonant C lu s te rs ..................................................................................... 67 9 . Greek Vowel Phonemes and th e ir Allophonee ........................................72 10. English Consonant Phonemes. ........ ................................... 95 11. Consonants of Athenian Greek and American English in C o n tra st. ............................................................ 132 12* Consonants of Modern Mainland Greek and American English in C o n tra st .......................................................................................................... 133 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Greek Immigration to the United States, 1880-1962 ...... .24 2. Immigrant Mother Tongues ..............................................................................27 3. Dialect Map of Modem Greek According to Trlandaphyllldis . .47 4. Regional Map of Greece .................................................................................. 49 5. Map of Greece Showing Birthplaces of Informants ...........................52 6. Athenian Greek and American English Consonants Contrasted . 134 7. Mainland Greek and American English Consonants Contrasted . 135 8. Greek and English Vocalic Systems .......................................................143 9. Greek and English Vowels Contrasted: Approximate Correspondence and Likely Substitutions ................................... 147 10. Greek and English Vocalic Systems: Articulatory Positions Relative to Each Other......................................... 148 Ix For faithful Panelope X INTRODUCTION Purpose The purpose of this dissertation is to compare the sound patterns of Modern Greek and of American English in order to determine the simi­ larities and differences of their phonological systems, identify and isolate the areas of difficulty in English pronunciation for Greeks, and provide a sound basis for the preparation of English pronunciation lessons for Greeks. A study