Acoustic and Articulatory Characteristics of English Semivowels /[voiced alveolar approximant], l, w/ Produced by Adult Second-Language Speakers

Autor/inn/en	Kim, Yunjung; Chung, Hyunju; Thompson, Austin
Titel	Acoustic and Articulatory Characteristics of English Semivowels /[voiced alveolar approximant], l, w/ Produced by Adult Second-Language Speakers
Quelle	In: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 65 (2022) 3, S.890-905 (16 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Kim, Yunjung) ORCID (Chung, Hyunju)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1092-4388
Schlagwörter	Acoustics; English (Second Language); Second Language Learning; Native Language; Vowels; Speech Communication; Korean; Phonetics; Measurement; Pronunciation; Oral Reading; Phonology; Task Analysis; Correlation; Language Variation; North American English; College Students; College Faculty; Participant Characteristics; Auditory Perception; Louisiana (Baton Rouge) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Akustik; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Koreanisch; Phonetik; Fonetik; Messverfahren; Aussprache; Oral work; Reading; Mündliche Übung; Leseprozess; Lesen; Fonologie; Aufgabenanalyse; Korrelation; Sprachenvielfalt; Amerikanisches Englisch; Collegestudent; Fakultät; Auditive Wahrnehmung; Akustische Wahrnehmung
Abstract	Purpose: This study presents the results of acoustic and kinematic analyses of word-initial semivowels (/[voiced alveolar approximant], l, w/) produced by second-language (L2) speakers of English whose native language is Korean. In addition, the relationship of acoustic and kinematic measures to the ratings of foreign accent was examined by correlation analyses. Method: Eleven L2 speakers and 10 native speakers (first language [L1]) of English read "The Caterpillar" passage. Acoustic and kinematic data were simultaneously recorded using an electromagnetic articulography system. In addition to speaking rate, two acoustic measures (ratio of third-formant [F3] frequency to second-formant [F2] frequency and duration of steady states of F2) and two kinematic measures (lip aperture and duration of lingual maximum hold) were obtained from individual target sounds. To examine the degree of contrast among the three sounds, acoustic and kinematic Euclidean distances were computed on the F2-F3 and "x-y" planes, respectively. Results: Compared with L1 speakers, L2 speakers exhibited a significantly slower speaking rate. For the three semivowels, L2 speakers showed a reduced F3/F2 ratio during constriction, increased lip aperture, and reduced acoustic Euclidean distances among semivowels. Additionally, perceptual ratings of foreign accent were significantly correlated with three measures: duration of steady F2, acoustic Euclidean distance, and kinematic Euclidean distance. Conclusions: The findings provide acoustic and kinematic evidence for challenges that L2 speakers experience in the production of English semivowels, especially /[voiced alveolar approximant]/ and /w/. The robust and consistent finding of reduced contrasts among semivowels and their correlations with perceptual accent ratings suggests using sound contrasts as a potentially effective approach to accent modification paradigms. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01