Production of lexical stress in non-native speakers of English: Linguistic transfer and kinematic correlates of prosody
Abstract
Non-native speakers must acquire the lexical stress rules associated with their first (L1) and second (L2) language, as well as the articulatory movements used to attain language specific targets. This study examines non-native speakers' production of trochaic and iambic words in L1 and L2 contexts. In each language context, participants produced four different real and four novel words. Three groups of speakers participated in this study, including monolingual English speakers and early and late exposed Bengali-English bilingual speakers. The Bengali-English bilingual participants were sorted into high and low L2 (English) proficiency groups based on English spoken proficiency and age of exposure. Lip and jaw movements were recorded while participants produced Bengali (L1) and English (L2) words embedded in a sentence. Lip movements for the target real and novel words were examined. Influence of language proficiency and experience was assessed by measuring (a) word duration, (b) movement variability, (c) stress modulation, and (d) perceptual consequences of productions. A major result was that adult non-native speakers showed evidence of L1 to L2 lexical stress transfer, but they never completely collapsed trochaic and iambic prosodic categories. This transfer was most evident through a trochaic bias exhibited by the late exposed and less proficient speakers of L2. Perceptually, highly proficient speakers of L2 received higher native-like accent ratings, with forms that included more modulation receiving comparatively higher ratings. However, in general, word duration and movement variability were not influenced by L2 proficiency. Overall, the present results show that, regardless of L2 proficiency, L1 to L2 transfer is a robust phenomenon. However, even in the face of L1 influences on the stress patterns produced in L2, there was evidence of at least covert marking of non-native prosodic contrasts.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Goffman, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Speech therapy
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