The influence of second language vowels on foreign language vowel perception

Anna Balas

doi:10.3765/plsa.v2i0.4085

Abstract

This paper examines the limits of feature abstraction and the influence of second language vowels on foreign vowel perception (cf. Pajak and Levy 2014). Perception of Dutch vowels by Polish students of English and French and Dutch was assessed using categorization tasks with goodness ratings. Dutch front rounded vowels were identified predominantly as front vowels by learners of French and Dutch and as back vowels by learners of English.The results suggest that the hypothesis about selective attention to features should incorporate markedness and that experience with second language front rounded vowels is enough to trigger disentangling rounding from backness.

Highlights

Pajak and Levy (2014) postulate an important role for selective attention to features in second language speech perception
This paper examines the limits of feature abstraction and the influence of second language vowels on foreign vowel perception
Does familiarity with L1 Polish back rounded vowels allow for perception of front rounded vowels of various heights? It is tested whether subjects have different perceptual sensitivity depending on their L2

Summary

Introduction

Pajak and Levy (2014) postulate an important role for selective attention to features in second language speech perception. They argue that listeners have enhanced sensitivity along phonetic dimensions that their L1 uses to distinguish between phonetic categories. Lip rounding as a vowel feature in L1 raises sensitivity to liprounding contrasts in approximants /w-j/ (Bohn and Best 2012, Hallé et al 1999). This paper examines the limits of feature abstraction and the influence of second language vowels on foreign vowel perception. Does familiarity with L1 Polish back rounded vowels allow for perception of front rounded vowels of various heights? It is tested whether subjects have different perceptual sensitivity depending on their L2 Does familiarity with L1 Polish back rounded vowels allow for perception of front rounded vowels of various heights? It is tested whether subjects have different perceptual sensitivity depending on their L2

Methods

Results

Conclusion