Perceptual Vowel Insertion in English-based Nonsense Words by Korean Learners

Abstract

This study explores the role of L1 constraints in sound perception in English-based nonsense words by Korean learners of English. Specifically, the study examined the effect of the unreleased coda constraint in Korean when perceiving word final palatal sibilants in English-based nonsense words. Korean learners in low and high levels of English proficiency participated in the study. The results showed that the learners with low proficiency levels in English were more likely to perceive the illusory vowel /i/ following a word final palatal sibilant in nonsense words. Their perception showed the influence of frication duration after a word final palatal sibilant. Compared to the high level learners, the low level learners were more sensitive to acoustic properties of frication noise of a word final palatal sibilant, yet incorrectly employed them as the cues to the vowel /i/. The high level learners showed a different pattern in that their perception was influenced by the relative duration of the vowel instead of frication duration. The results of the present study using English-based nonsense words indicate that Korean low-level learners of English are significantly under the influence of L1 constraints in L2 perception of word final palatal sibilants.