Marie A Melenca
Papers
1
Total Citations
21
H-Index
1
About
Marie A. Melenca is a dedicated scholar in applied linguistics and second language acquisition, with a focused expertise in the phonology and prosody of English as a second language. Her most-cited work, "Teaching connected speech rules to Japanese speakers of English so as to avoid a staccato speech rhythm" (2001, 21 citations), represents a significant contribution to the field of pronunciation pedagogy. In this study, Melenca empirically demonstrated that explicit instruction in connected speech rules—such as linking, elision, and assimilation—can effectively help Japanese learners overcome the staccato, syllable-timed rhythm that often marks their English speech. By comparing an experimental group receiving targeted instruction with a control group that simply read poetry aloud, her research provided clear, practical evidence for teaching methods that enhance naturalness and fluency. While her citation count reflects a focused, specialized impact, this work remains a valuable resource for teachers and researchers seeking evidence-based strategies for improving L2 oral proficiency. Melenca’s research bridges the gap between theoretical phonology and classroom practice, offering actionable insights for educators working with learners from syllable-timed language backgrounds.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
- 1