Cross-Linguistic Similarity in L2 Speech Learning: Evidence from the Acquisition of Russian Stop Contrasts by Mandarin Speakers

Autor/inn/en	Yang, Yuxiao; Chen, Xiaoxiang; Xiao, Qi
Titel	Cross-Linguistic Similarity in L2 Speech Learning: Evidence from the Acquisition of Russian Stop Contrasts by Mandarin Speakers
Quelle	In: Second Language Research, 38 (2022) 1, S.3-29 (27 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Yang, Yuxiao)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0267-6583
DOI	10.1177/0267658319900919
Schlagwörter	Russian; Contrastive Linguistics; Phonemes; Mandarin Chinese; Speech Communication; Models; Acoustics; Auditory Perception; Articulation (Speech); Phonology; Second Language Learning; Second Language Instruction; Task Analysis; Phonetics; Prediction; Linguistic Theory; Undergraduate Students; Russian Literature; Majors (Students); Language Proficiency; Foreign Countries; China + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Russisch; Linguistics; Kontrastive Linguistik; Fonem; Analogiemodell; Akustik; Auditive Wahrnehmung; Akustische Wahrnehmung; Fonologie; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Fremdsprachenunterricht; Aufgabenanalyse; Phonetik; Fonetik; Vorhersage; Linguistische Theorie; Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz; Ausland
Abstract	This study investigated the role of cross-linguistic similarity in the acquisition of Russian initial stop contrasts by Chinese learners, addressing two specific research questions: (1) How similar are Russian voiced stops to Mandarin stops for Chinese learners?; and (2) How can the speech learning model (SLM) be applied to account for the acquisition of Russian initial stop contrasts by Chinese learners? Regarding the first question, a hypothesis was proposed that Russian voiced stops could be regarded as dissimilar 'new' sounds by Chinese learners, as judged by three commonly adopted methods: IPA comparison, acoustic difference, and feature redeployment. The results of the perceptual assimilation task, however, disconfirmed this hypothesis, as Russian voiced stops were perceived as being highly similar to the sounds of Mandarin voiceless unaspirated stops. According to SLM, perceptually similar second language (L2) sounds are difficult to acquire; hence, a corresponding hypothesis was advanced in relation to the second question; namely, that the acquisition of Russian initial stop contrasts could be challenging for Chinese learners. This hypothesis was supported by the results of the perceptual discrimination and the production tests. These findings corroborated SLM regarding the difficulty in acquiring L2 sounds that are perceptually similar to their first language (L1) counterparts, while posing challenges to the hypothesis that Russian voiced stops could be dissimilar 'new' sounds for Chinese learners, as predicted by the three methods. The results indicated that perceived cross-linguistic similarity plays a key role in L2 phonetic acquisition. However, the degree of perceived similarity cannot always be accurately deduced solely through the three methods, at least not in the case of stops. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01