The perception of English [h] and [ɹ] by Brazilian Portuguese speakers

Abstract

Brazilian Portuguese (BP) learners of English have difficulties in differentiating between initial English [h] and [ɹ] (Zimmer, Silveira, and Alvers, 2009). This study investigates how speakers who have BP as their L1 and English as their L2 perceive the phonetic distance of English [h] and [ɹ], and how they and monolingual BP speakers map these phonemes onto BP sound categories. 32 native BP learners of English participated in three consecutive experiments: AXB Discrimination, Identification, and Assimilation Tests. In addition, 18 monolingual BP speakers participated in the same Assimilation test. Significant effects in ANOVAs on the three experiments support the results. Beginners and intermediates were able to hear the distinction acoustically. Only intermediates, however, used the distinction to identify English words. Both monolingual BP speakers and intermediates assimilate English [h] primary to BP double <rr> (reflecting the dialectal and allophonic variation of the BP rhotic sounds). Beginners showed a failure to assimilate L2 sounds to their L1 BP categories. Comparison across these experiments shows that, at some stages of learning, BP speakers experience difficulty in evaluating these L2 sounds relative to their L1 inventory and in using the L2 distinction at the lexical level.