The Rhythmic Classification of Algerian EFL Undergraduates’ Interlanguage: A Comparison of two Approaches

Abstract

This paper investigateswhether the interlanguage rhythm produced by 20 third year Algerian EFL students at Mentouri Universityis classified as a discrete category or along a continuum. The rhythm metrics (%V and ∆C), yield that the informants’ speech rhythm is ‘intermediate’, merging a stress-timed ∆C and a syllable-timed %V.The study also calculates nPVI and rPVI and compares the results obtained from both set of metrics with those found in Hamdi(1).The comparison revealsthat %V and ∆C are the best rhythm metrics in classifying the present interlanguage rhythm.