Temporal features of Spanish-accented English

Abstract

In this study we attempt to identify the acoustic parameters of Spanish accented English that give it the perception of being accented. Recordings of eight multisyllabic (3, 4, and 5 syllables) words spoken in sentences by 22 Spanish speakers of English and five native speakers of American English (AE) were analyzed for temporal acoustic differences. Segmental durations of Spanish productions, including differences of stressed–unstressed (s/u) vowel duration ratios, Voice Onset Time (VOT) and flap/stop duration, differed from native productions. The sentences and the excised target words were given to native (AE) listeners (N=10) who judged the degree of accentedness on a 9-point scale. The degree of accentedness on target words correlated with perceived ratings on the eight sentences (i.e., global accentedness), rho=+0.82. Spearman rank-order correlations between s/u vowel duration ratios and native listener ratings of accentedness on target words varied from +0.04 to 0.68. The VOT duration of initial voiceless stops correlated positively with accentedness ratings for three of the four words (+0.26 to +0.35). Overall, results suggest that Spanish-accented English is characterized by significant temporal differences from native American English, and that these temporal differences contribute to the perception of accentedness as judged by native American English listeners.