L2 phonological development in speech production during study abroad
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The present study investigates the impact of a 3-month study abroad (SA) period on second language (L2) phonological development in speech production by means of acoustic-phonetic measures, as well as listeners’ assessment of perceived foreign accent (FA). Speech samples were collected from 23 bilingual Spanish/Catalan learners of English before (Pre-test) and after (Post-test) SA. Acoustic-phonetic measures consisted of measurements for voice onset time (VOT) in voiceless plosives and for vowel duration and quality, together with error rate scores resulting from the computation of pronunciation errors. Perceived FA measures were obtained from a group of native listeners (n=20) and another group of non-native listeners (n=37) who performed a rating task. Results failed to yield a large effect of SA in VOT and vowel measures, although they indicated a slight decrease in perceived FA and a significant improvement in error rate scores after SA. High correlations were found between the acoustic-phonetic measures and the FA ratings.
Author: Pilar Avello
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1750098378