Phonetic realization of narrow focus by Beijing EFL learners in English yes-no sentences

Abstract

Focus plays a critical role in English. The present study investigates how focus is phonetically realized in English yes-no sentences by Beijing EFL learners. The study tends to examine different F0 contours at different positions of English yes-no sentences to see whether Beijing EFL learners' phonetic realization of narrow focus is distinct from native English speakers'. Four native speakers of American English and four Beijing EFL learners are taken as subjects to record the English yes-no sentences in different focus positions. Detailed F0 inspection reveals that the phonetic realization of focus of Beijing EFL learners is different from that of native speakers. At the on-focus positions, Fo contours of native speakers in narrowly focused sentences are suppressed in comparison with those in broadly focused sentences; however, the Beijing EFL learner show expanded Fo contours. Moreover, at post-focus positions, the F0 contours of native speakers in narrowly focused sentences are higher than those in broadly focused sentences, while Beijing EFL learners show the intact or opposite conditions. Apart from the differences, the study explains the reasons for these differences from the perspective of negative transfer of Chinese on the production of English focused yes-no questions.