The Relation between Lexical Knowledge and L2 Production of English /z/-/ʒ/

Abstract

This study examined Korean learners’ production of English /z/-/ʒ/ contrast. In doing so, the acoustic measurements such as centroid frequency (CF), peak amplitude frequency (PAF) and friction ratio of a target fricative within a word were compared between native English speakers and Korean learners at three different proficiency levels in English (i.e., low, intermediate and high). It was found that Korean learners exhibited different patterns regarding friction ratio of /z/ and /ʒ/ depending on their proficiency levels in English. In general, the low and intermediate groups illustrated significantly lower friction ratio than the high and native English groups. On the other hand, there were no significant differences of CF and PAF among the four groups, indicating that Korean learners were able to pronounce places of articulation of /z/ and /ʒ/ like native English speakers regardless of their proficiency levels. In addition, a significant relationship between Korean learners’ production of /z/-/ʒ/ and lexical knowledge was found in the high group’s production of /z/. CF and PAF of /z/ were higher for the tokens with no lexical knowledge than the ones with lexical knowledge, suggesting that the high group pronounced /z/ included in the tokens with no lexical knowledge in a more front region, possibly as the result of hyperarticulation. (Hannam University, University of Seoul)