Perception and production of L2 Mandarin tones by Swedish learners

Yasuko Nagano-Madsen,Xinzheng Wan

doi:10.23919/eusipco.2017.8081273

Abstract

This study presents the results of perception and production of L2 Mandarin tones in mono- and di-syllabic words by Swedish learners at the beginner level. Although studies of perception and production on Mandarin tones are many, those by speakers of lexical-pitch accent language such as Swedish are still very limited. The result reveals both discrepancy and agreement between perception and production. Swedish learners perform best in discriminating a level tone (T1) from contour tones (T2, T3, T4) both in perception and production. Discrepancy between perception and production was noted for T3. In perception, the identification of T3 was second best after the level tone (T1), but the production of T3 was found to be difficult.

Highlights

This study examines the perception of production of Mandarin tones by Swedish learners at the acoustic level
It is well known that the neural basis of first language (L1) processing differs from that of second language (L2) processing [1]
SWEDISH PITCH ACCENT It is known that the perception and production of L2 prosody is strongly influenced by the learner’s L1 prosody

Summary

INTRODUCTION

This study examines the perception of production of Mandarin tones by Swedish learners at the acoustic level. It is hypothesized that the processing of L2 becomes similar to that of L1 as the proficiency level becomes higher This is true even for neural processes underlying perception and production of L1 and L2 [2]. The present study is directed towards answering such questions It examines the acquisition and processing of L2 Mandarin tonal perception and production by L1 Swedish learners at the beginner level (five – seven months of learning). Since both Chinese and Swedish are relatively well studied for their prosodic features, it will enable us to examine how and when the L1 prosodic transfer takes place

SWEDISH PITCH ACCENT

Stimuli and procedure for the production experiment

Perception

Production and perception

DISCUSSION