Production quality of /r/ and /l/ liquids among Cantonese and Mandarin ESL learners

Abstract

Perceptual interference theories suggest L2 language learners produce phonemes based on their native language phonology (Iverson et al., 2004, Cognition). This present study investigated the impact of differing native language segmental inventories on the acquisition of the English r/l contrast. Northern Mandarin dialects exhibit coda /r/ similar to the English bunched /r/, while Cantonese exhibits no r-like liquids (Gick et al., 2003, under review). The Mandarin segmental inventory provides more of a basis for acquiring the English r/l contrast than the Cantonese inventory. It is therefore predicted that Mandarin speakers will acquire the r/l contrast with a lower level of experience with English than the Cantonese speakers. One Cantonese and two Mandarin ESL learners produced r/l sounds in minimally contrastive English words in simple and complex onset, coda, and intervocalic positions. The data were analyzed in two ways. Four native English listeners were asked to judge for each word whether the target consonant was /r/ or /l/. Also, ultrasound tongue images were analyzed for component /r/ and /l/ gestures. Results provided partial support for the hypothesis. Implications for theories of second language acquisition will be discussed.