Original Research
The Development of a Zulu Speech Reception Threshold Test for Zulu First Language Speakers in KwaZulu-Natal
South African Journal of Communication Disorders | Vol 54, No 1 | a761 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v54i1.761
| © 2020 Seema Panday, Harsha Kathard, Mershen Pillay, Cyril Govender
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 21 April 2020 | Published: 31 December 2007
Submitted: 21 April 2020 | Published: 31 December 2007
About the author(s)
Seema Panday, Discipline of Audiology, School of Audiology, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaHarsha Kathard, Discipline of Audiology, School of Audiology, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Mershen Pillay, Discipline of Audiology, School of Audiology, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Cyril Govender, Discipline of Audiology, School of Audiology, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Full Text:
PDF (472KB)Abstract
The measurement of speech reception threshold (SRT) is best evaluated in an individual’s first language. The present study focused on the development of a Zulu SRT word list, according to adapted criteria for SRT in Zulu. The aim of this paper is to present the process involved in the development of the Zulu word list. In acquiring the data to realize this aim, 131 common bisyllabic Zulu words were identified by two Zulu speaking language interpreters and two tertiary level educators. Eighty two percent of these words were described as bisyllabic verbs. Thereafter using a three point Likert scale, 58 bisyllabic verbs were rated by 5 linguistic experts as being familiar, phonetically dissimilar and being low tone verbs. According to the Kendall’s co-efficient of concordance at 95% level of confidence the agreement among the raters was good for each criterion. The results highlighted the importance of adapting the criteria for SRT to suit the structure of the language. An important research implication emerging from the study is the theoretical guidelines proposed for the development of SRT material in other African Languages. Furthermore, the importance of using speech material appropriate to the language has also being highlighted. The developed SRT word list in Zulu is applicable to the adult Zulu First Language Speaker in KZN.
Keywords
speech reception threshold; Zulu First Language Speaker; SRT word list development; familiarity; phonetic dissimilarity; low tone verbs
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Crossref Citations
1. The validity of an isiZulu speech reception threshold test for use with adult isiZulu speakers
Seema Panday, Harsha Kathard, Wayne J. Wilson
South African Journal of Communication Disorders vol: 67 issue: 1 year: 2020
doi: 10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.690