Abstract
The L1 phonetic categories established in childhood may undergo modification when similar L1 and L2 sounds interact in the process of L2 learning [J. Flege, Speech perception and linguistic experience: Issues in cross‐language research (1995)]. In this study, Mandarin vowel production by the Mandarin‐English bilinguals was presented to Mandarin as well as English listeners for goodness rating. The results showed that both Mandarin‐English bilinguals of high L1 use and those of low L1 use differed significantly from Mandarin monolinguals in the production of /y/, a vowel with no counterpart in English. An analysis of inter‐speaker variability indicated that some individual Mandarin‐English bilinguals, including both speakers of high L1 and low L1 use, were accented in the production of /y/, /aj/, and /au/. Possible acoustic properties contributing to their accentedness were identified. L2 English learning led to some Mandarin‐English bilinguals carrying some English characteristics in their L1 Mandarin vowel production. This study provides further evidence for the claim that the L1 phonetic system established in childhood is susceptible to change. It contributes to the less well‐studied field of L2 influence on L1.
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