Effects of Final Stop Release and Vowel Insertion on Nasalization in English Speech by Korean EFL Speakers

Abstract

This study aims to investigate how Korean nasalization processes influence English speech by Korean EFL (English as Foreign Language) speakers as L1 interference. Specifically, the study focuses on the effects of final stop release and vowel insertion on nasalization. 24 speakers participated in the experiment. Among them, four speakers were Native American English speakers and 20 were Korean EFL speakers. The Korean-speaking participants were divided into two groups of ten according to their English proficiency; a group with high-intermediate English proficiency and a group with low English proficiency. Through this study, the following points were noted. First, the realization of final stop release and vowel insertion influences the realization of nasalization processes in English speech by Korean EFL speakers. The higher the frequency of final stop release and vowel insertion, the lower the frequency of the realization of nasalization processes when analyzed by prosodic domains and voicing and place of the final stops. Second, it was found that the effects of final stop release and vowel insertion on nasalization processes are more noticeable in the group with lower English proficiency than the group with higher English proficiency. These findings suggest that Korean nasalization processes influence English speech by Korean EFL speakers as L1 interference and the realization of Korean nasalization is closely related to the realization of final stop release and vowel insertion.