A Study of Speech Error Phenomena T.O.T Experienced by Advanced EFL Speakers

Abstract

This work is inspecting the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon, as a sample of advanced EFL users would experience it. It is grounded on the hypothesis that since speaking is a universal process for all human beings, then production models and theories should be universal too, for describing and explaining any phenomenon in any language used whether that language is a native or a foreign language and the occurrence T.O.T. (tip-of-the-tongue) phenomenon in specific. For this reason, advanced EFL users could experience such a phenomenon when using the English language for their every day or their academic life. This paper consists of a theoretical part in which it is considered the basis for defining and explaining the T.O.T. phenomenon and understanding the discussion of the study's expected results. However, in the discussion part, the researcher sheds light on the practical side that contains the questionnaire work analysis, the discussion of the results, and the conclusion that would be expected to be achieved. Based on the above hypothesis while, there were a restricted number of the T.O.T.s; conversely, in such cases, nearly most of the production of speech models and theories that explain the T.O.T. phenomenon is applicable. Concerning the identified T.O.T.s cases, they occurred more with deficient neighbourhoods than words that have sufficient neighbourhoods.