On the possibility of measuring the level of articulatory skills in a foreign language

The article dwells upon the possibility to assess quantitative evaluation of the level of articulatory skills. A formula is offered which allows to estimate individual indices Rphon. The index takes account of reading rapidity and correct pronunciation of letter combinations, as well as the placement of verbal accents in the course of reading a coherent text. The procedure includes reading aloud a standard text, and then a text, which contains a number of unfamiliar words (quasi-words). The validity of the proposed procedure is checked by testing about 100 subjects with varying levels of English language training, both on English and Russian material. Recommendations are given on the use of the procedure described. Index Rphon is claimed to be productive in dealing with some investigational items.