Nucleus Position Transfer in English: Reasons and Effects

Abstract

The article addresses the issue of non-normative nucleus placement in the English utterance in the speech of Russian and Spanish learners of English. The research is aimed at determining the limits of nucleus position variation in the English sentence and revealing errors of non-native English language learners in nucleus position choice. Reasons for erratic realizations are studied. The results based on the perceptual test with British English native speakers allow describing differences and similarities in the nucleus position choice made by Spanish and Russian experiment participants. .The perception test proves that non-normative nucleus shifts can lead to persistent communication misunderstanding. Perspectives for further research as well as the study results application are suggested.