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Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter Mouton August 1, 2017

Individual differences in second language speech perception across tasks and contrasts: The case of English vowel contrasts by Korean learners

  • Donghyun Kim EMAIL logo , Meghan Clayards and Heather Goad
From the journal Linguistics Vanguard

Abstract:

The present study examines whether individual differences in second language (L2) learners’ perceptual cue weighting strategies reflect systematic abilities. We tested whether cue weights indicate proficiency in perception using a naturalistic discrimination task as well as whether cue weights are related across contrasts for individual learners. Twenty-four native Korean learners of English completed a two-alternative forced choice identification task on /ɪ/-/i/ and /ɛ/-/æ/ contrasts varying orthogonally in formant frequency and duration to determine their perceptual cue weights. They also completed a two-talker AX discrimination task on natural productions of the same vowels. In the cue-weighting task, we found that individual L2 learners varied greatly in the extent to which they relied on particular phonetic cues. However, individual learners’ perceptual weighting strategies were consistent across contrasts. We also found that more native-like performance on this task – reliance on spectral differences over duration – was related to better recognition of naturally produced vowels in the discrimination task. Therefore, the present study confirms earlier reports that learners vary in the extent to which they rely on particular phonetic cues. Additionally, our results demonstrate that these individual differences reflect systematic cue use across contrasts as well as the ability to discriminate naturally produced stimuli.

Funding source: SSHRC

Award Identifier / Grant number: 435-2014-1504

Award Identifier / Grant number: 435-2015-0490

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2016-SE-188196

Funding statement: SSHRC (Grant / Award Number: “435-2014-1504” and “435-2015-0490); FRQSC (Grant / Award Number: “2016-SE-188196”).

Appendix

Table 5:

Summary of fixed effects in a mixed-effects logistic regression model in the identification task by the native listeners. Model coefficient estimates (β), standard errors, corresponding z-values, and p-values. Reference level is provided in parentheses.

Predictor
Estimate (β)
Std. Error
z
p
Intercept
–0.56
0.29
–1.91
0.05
Contrast (/I/-/i/)
–1.35
0.65
–2.05
0.04
Spectrum
8.45
0.71
11.79
<0.001
Duration
2.07
0.17
12.11
<0.001
Contrast × Spectrum
3.18
1.53
2.07
0.03
Contrast × Duration
0.64
0.34
1.87
0.06

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Received: 2016-4-20
Accepted: 2016-9-12
Published Online: 2017-8-1

© 2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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