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.
Highlights
The Speech Reception Threshold (SRT) test is part of the ini tial conventional audiological test battery
SRT is defined by the (American Speech and Hearing Association [ASHA], 1988) as the hearing level in decibels at which the individual can respond correctly to 50% of the test words presented to him/ her
The aim of this study was to develop a SRT word list for Zulu First Language Speakers (ZFLS) in Kwa Zulu-Natal (KZN) and to answer the following critical question “What is the process involved in establishing appropriate criteria for the development of a SRT word list for ZFLS in KZN?
Summary
The Speech Reception Threshold (SRT) test is part of the ini tial conventional audiological test battery. The need for linguistically matched speech materials has moti vated many researchers to embark on the formidable task of developing word lists in the client’s mother tongue language. Some of these researchers include, Ashoor & Proschazka (1985) who developed test words in Arabic, Plant (1990) fo cused on the development of words in Walpiri and Tiwi; and more recently, Nissen et al (2005), who developed words in Mandarin. Nissen et al (2005) strongly argued that to develop a suitable word list in a language other than English requires an in-depth understanding of the linguistic structure of the language because the criteria for the original English SRT materials have been designed around the structure of English. It was deemed necessary to develop a word ilist that was relevant to the Zulu language in Kwa Zulu-Natal (KZN)
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