Using Ultrasound Tongue Imaging to Study Covert Contrasts in Second-Language Learners' Acquisition of English Vowels

Autor/inn/en	Song, Jae Yung; Eckman, Fred
Titel	Using Ultrasound Tongue Imaging to Study Covert Contrasts in Second-Language Learners' Acquisition of English Vowels
Quelle	In: Language Acquisition: A Journal of Developmental Linguistics, 28 (2021) 4, S.344-369 (26 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1048-9223
DOI	10.1080/10489223.2021.1910266
Schlagwörter	Vowels; Human Body; Phonemes; English (Second Language); Second Language Learning; Acoustics; Phonetics; Native Language; Korean; Spanish; Articulation (Speech); Comparative Analysis; Diagnostic Tests; Audio Equipment; Speech Communication; Pronunciation; Language Patterns; Decision Making; Task Analysis; North American English; College Faculty; College Students; Language Acquisition; Phonology + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Menschlicher Körper; Fonem; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Akustik; Phonetik; Fonetik; Koreanisch; Spanisch; Diagnostic test; Diagnostischer Test; Audio-CD; Aussprache; Sprachmodell; Sprachstruktur; Decision-making; Entscheidungsfindung; Aufgabenanalyse; Amerikanisches Englisch; Fakultät; Collegestudent; Sprachaneignung; Spracherwerb; Fonologie
Abstract	Research attempting to understand the intermediate stages of first-language acquisition and disordered speech has led to the discovery of covert contrast. A covert contrast is a statistically reliable difference between phonemes that is produced by a language learner, but in a way that cannot be heard readily by a listener of the target language. In the present study, we aimed to extend the investigation of covert contrasts to the domain of second-language acquisition. In particular, we used ultrasound tongue imaging to examine whether adult second-language learners of American English produced articulatory distinctions between the target vowels, in addition to producing acoustic differences. We collected speech recordings from 21 speakers (7 Korean speakers, 7 Spanish speakers, 7 English controls) while they produced words illustrating the relevant vowel contrasts in English: /i/-/?/ and /[epsilon]/-/ae/. Results showed that approximately 36% of our second-language participants implemented various patterns of covert contrast in vowel articulation. Ultrasound measurements revealed that two participants made a covert distinction between two vowels that were perceptually neutralized. For one participant, the anterior part of the tongue was higher for /i/ than /?/, and for the other, it was higher for /[epsilon]/ than /ae/. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of a learner-oriented approach in studying the acquisition of phonemic contrasts and suggest that ultrasound tongue imaging can be a promising tool to examine the articulatory details of vowel production in second-language learners. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01