Cross-language speech sounds: Differential sensitivity and L2 accent

Abstract

Individuals vary in their ability to perceive phonetic differences between speech sounds. Individuals also vary in their aptitude for acquiring accurate pronunciation of a second language. The research to be presented investigates a probable link between the two with the aim that capacity for phonetic perception may constitute a measure of second language aptitude. In a series of tasks manipulating memory and attention load, Native Mandarin speakers for whom English is a second language were tested on their ability to discriminate non-native speech contrasts that cluster around the Mandarin and English phonetic spaces with varying ‘‘distances.’’ Each contrast pair is phonemically meaningful in a significant portion of the world’s languages (UPSID 451). These scores were then related to measures of degree of accent in English. Related results examining working memory span will also be reported. Accordingly, an explanation of variability in later-learner L2 accent strength is explained as a consequence of idiosyncratic ability to perceive phonetic differences between speech sounds. This cognitive correlate’s account is consistent with the notion that a greater ability to perceive small differences between novel phones is crucial to their accurate acquisition and reproduction.