Prosody-Based Word Recognition for L2 Speakers

Abstract

<p>Compared to ample studies on word recognition by L1 speakers of English or French, there has been comparatively little focus on L2 listeners' sensitivity to stress for word identification in other target languages. Hence the current study explores whether Korean L2 (English) listeners can effectively differentiate or retrieve the original words on the basis of the initial syllable or foot containing primary or secondary stressed vowels. In effect, this study tests whether a bigger prosodic size than syllables can be the unit of word recognition.</p>