Résumés
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of conventional and nonconventional expressions on listener comprehensibility. A forty-item comprehensibility test, including conventional expressions, interlanguage attempts, sociopragmatic deviances and alternative grammar constructions produced by French L2 (second language) speakers (N=27) was created. Pronunciation effects were controlled by having a single speaker read aloud the items. Using a 100-point sliding scale, comprehensibility was rated by Quebec French L1 (first language) speakers (N=34). Results showed a significant effect of the four variables on the raters’ scores and a significant difference between them. Conventional expressions were judged the most comprehensible while some alternative grammar constructions seemed not to impose comprehensibility issues. Attempted conventional expressions sharing pragmalinguistics or sociopragmatic resources with the target conventional expression were judged more comprehensible. These findings suggest that comprehensibility can be sensitive to what is familiar and expected by the listener.
Keywords:
- Conventional expressions,
- comprehensibility,
- French,
- Pragmatics,
- pronunciation
Résumé
Cette étude s’intéresse à l'effet des expressions conventionnelles et non conventionnelles en français sur la compréhensibilité des locuteurs L1. Un questionnaire comprenant des expressions conventionnelles, des construction alternatives et des déviations pragmalinguistiques et sociopragmatiques produites par des locuteurs L2 (N=27) a été conçu. L’effet de la prononciation a été contrôlé en utilisant un seul locuteur L2. La compréhensibilité a été évaluée par des locuteurs L1 du français québécois (N=34) avec une échelle Likert de 100 points. Les résultats ont souligné un effet significatif entre les quatre types de réponses. Les expressions conventionnelles ont été jugées les plus compréhensibles tandis que certaines constructions alternatives semblent ne pas affecter la compréhensibilité. Les déviations partageant des ressources pragmalinguistiques ou sociopragmatiques des expressions conventionnelles ont été jugées plus compréhensibles. Ces résultats suggèrent que le jugement de la compréhensibilité peut être sensible à ce qui est familier et attendu par le locuteur.
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