Phonetic similarity of /s/ in native and second language: individual differences in learning curves

H. Quené; R. Orr; David A. van Leeuwen

doi:10.1121/1.5013149

Phonetic similarity of /s/ in native and second language: individual differences in learning curves

H. Quené
, R. Orr
, David A. van Leeuwen

Radboud University Nijmegen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Second language learners may merge similar sounds from their native (L1) and second (L2) languages into a single phonetic category, neutralizing subphonemic differences in these similar sounds. This study investigates whether Dutch speakers produce phonetically distinct variants of /s/ in their L1 Dutch and L2 English, and whether and how this phonetic categorization develops over time. Target /s/ sounds in matching words in L1 and L2 were compared in their centre of spectral
gravity. Speakers varied in their individual learning curves in the categorization of produced /s/ sounds, both in starting points and in longitudinal trajectories. After 3 years, however, all speakers had converged in producing their /s/ variants in L1 and L2 as two similar but different sounds.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	519-524
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Volume	142
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1121/1.5013149
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2017

Keywords

phonetic categorization
second language learning
longitudinal development
individual differences
phonetic convergence

Access to Document

10.1121/1.5013149

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Final published version, 205 KBLicence: Other

10 Citations
1 Inaugural speech
1 Chapter
1 Web publication/site

De kansen van spreiding
Translated title of the contribution: The chances of spreadingQuené, H., 13 Mar 2017, Utrecht: Universiteit Utrecht. 34 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Inaugural speech › Other research output

Open Access
File
D-LUCEA: Curation of the UCU Accent Project Data
Orr, R. & Quené, H., 28 Dec 2017, CLARIN in the Low Countries. Odijk, J. & van Hessen, A. (eds.). London: Ubiquity Press, p. 181-193 https://doi.org/10.5334/bbi.15
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

Open Access
File
Longitudinal Corpus of University College English Accents
Quené, H., 2016
Research output: Non-textual form › Web publication/site › Other research output

Cite this

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title = "Phonetic similarity of /s/ in native and second language: individual differences in learning curves",

abstract = "Second language learners may merge similar sounds from their native (L1) and second (L2) languages into a single phonetic category, neutralizing subphonemic differences in these similar sounds. This study investigates whether Dutch speakers produce phonetically distinct variants of /s/ in their L1 Dutch and L2 English, and whether and how this phonetic categorization develops over time. Target /s/ sounds in matching words in L1 and L2 were compared in their centre of spectral gravity. Speakers varied in their individual learning curves in the categorization of produced /s/ sounds, both in starting points and in longitudinal trajectories. After 3 years, however, all speakers had converged in producing their /s/ variants in L1 and L2 as two similar but different sounds.",

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JF - Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

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Phonetic similarity of /s/ in native and second language: individual differences in learning curves

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

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Research output

De kansen van spreiding

D-LUCEA: Curation of the UCU Accent Project Data

Longitudinal Corpus of University College English Accents

Cite this