Acceso usuarios
Janet Holmes, Helen Ainsworth
Doing research is one important means of increasing understanding of language issues and developing metalinguistic awareness, from which students of language and linguistics, and language learners can benefit. Published papers generally present the process of investigating language as a neat, logical progression from an initial research question to a satisfying conclusion. The reality is rarely so orderly. This paper attempts to provide some insights into the ways in which research develops, generating at least as many questions as it answers. The particular issue selected to illustrate the research process is the extent to which syllable‐timing is a characteristic of the New Zealand English speech of particular ethnic and social groups. The discussion examines a number of aspects of the research process including the development of hypotheses, methodological challenges such as the problems involved in measuring relevant variables, and emphasises the importance of considering alternative interpretations of the data. Each of these stages has the potential for developing the researcher's linguistic and metalinguistic awareness.
