The Velar Fricative /x/ and Its Alphabetic Representations: Issues in Teaching Portuguese as a Foreign Language.

Abstract

This study explores the orthographic representations of the velar fricative phoneme /x/ in six different languages, with a focus on the teaching of Portuguese as a Foreign Language (PLE). The methodology involved the analysis of corpora extracted from the various alphabetic representations of the /x/ phoneme. To do so, the orthographic meanings responsible for such representation were sought within the linguistic systems of Brazilian Portuguese, Peninsular Spanish, European French, Standard German, Dutch, and British English. The results demonstrated that asymmetries between the linguistic systems of these languages can pose significant challenges for PLE students, as they hinder the acquisition of letter-to-sound understanding within the mentioned language. The provided examples highlighted how the /x/ phoneme is represented in distinct ways in different linguistic contexts, affecting the pronunciation and comprehension of foreign students. Furthermore, awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity enhances the learning experience and promotes a deeper understanding of Brazilian language and culture.