The effects of the acoustic properties of second language vowel production on pronunciation evaluation

Authors

  • Chris Sheppard School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics, University of Sheffield, UK Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36505/ExLing-2008/02/0051/000110

Keywords:

vowels, pronunciation, evaluation, formants

Abstract

This study examines the acoustic characteristics which native speakers use as cues when judging speech samples. Seventeen words produced by 98 speakers (15 native speakers and 83 Japanese learners of English) were collected and evaluated. Following this, the first three formants for each vowel produced were measured and used as independent variables in stepwise multiple regression analyses to explain variance in the evaluations. The results demonstrated that the formants did explain variance in evaluation in many but not all of the words ($r^2$ = 0.0 to 0.36).

References

Munro, M. J. and Derwing, T. M. 1995. Foreign Accent, Comprehensibility, and Intelligibility in the Speech of Second Language Learners. Language Learning, 45, 73-97.

Oyama, S. 1976. A sensitive period for the acquisition of a nonnative phonological system. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, 5, 261-283.

Piske, T., MacKay, I. R. A. and Flege, J. E. 2001. Factors affecting degree of foreign accent in an L2: A review. Journal of Phonetics, 29, 191-215.

Purcell, E. T. and Suter, R. W. 1980. Predictors of pronunciation accuracy: A reexamination. Language Learning, 30, 271-287.

Sheppard, C., Hayashi, C. and Ohmori, A. 2007. Factors Accounting for Attainment in Foreign Language Phonological Competence. Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, 1597-1600. Saarbrücken, Germany.

Wayland, R. 1997. Non-native Production of Thai: Acoustic Measurements and Accentedness Ratings. Applied Linguistics, 18, 345-373.

Downloads

Published

01-01-2008

How to Cite

The effects of the acoustic properties of second language vowel production on pronunciation evaluation. (2008). Linguistic Proceedings Series, 2(1), 201-204. https://doi.org/10.36505/ExLing-2008/02/0051/000110

Similar Articles

1-10 of 92

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.