THE ROLE OF L1 PROSODY IN L2 VOWEL DURATION PRODUCTION: EVIDENCE FROM ASIAN LEARNERS OF ENGLISH

Authors

  • Nguyen Van Anh Le University of Foreign Language Studies, The University of Danang, Vietnam
  • Huu Thanh Minh Nguyen University of Foreign Language Studies, The University of Danang, Vietnam
  • Hoang My Thieu University of Foreign Language Studies, The University of Danang, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v11i6.5364

Keywords:

voiced/voiceless stops, preceding vowel duration, L2 English, Asian languages

Abstract

The pre-fortis clipping pattern refers to vowels being shorter before voiceless consonants compared to vowels before voiced consonants. This study examined whether first-language (L1) prosodic properties affect the production of this vowel duration pattern in second-language (L2) English speech. Native speakers of Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese with varying English proficiency participated in a production experiment. Results showed that while speakers exhibited some pre-fortis clipping, there were no significant vowel lengthening patterns. Additional analysis revealed subtle differences based on the L1 prosody type. Native Mandarin and Vietnamese speakers, with lexical tone, had similar duration ratios. However, native Korean speakers, with no tone, showed less distinction in vowel duration by consonant voicing. Japanese speakers, with pitch accents, fell in the middle. The findings provide limited evidence that L1 prosody affects L2 vowel duration production. The results have implications for theories of L2 speech acquisition as well as pedagogical techniques when teaching English vowels.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Nguyen Van Anh Le, University of Foreign Language Studies, The University of Danang, Vietnam

    Nguyen Van Anh Le, Lecturer, Faculty of English, University of Foreign Language Studies, The University of Danang, Vietnam. Areas of interest: phonetics, phonology.

    Email: lnvanh@ufl.udn.vn

  • Huu Thanh Minh Nguyen, University of Foreign Language Studies, The University of Danang, Vietnam

    Huu Thanh Minh Nguyen, Lecturer, Faculty of English, University of Foreign Language Studies, The University of Danang, Vietnam. Areas of interest: language testing and assessment, second language writing.

    Email: nhtminh@ufl.udn.vn

  • Hoang My Thieu, University of Foreign Language Studies, The University of Danang, Vietnam

    Hoang My Thieu, University Lecturer, Faculty of English, University of Foreign Language Studies, The University of Danang, Vietnam. Areas of interest: language assessment, second language acquisition.

    Email: thmy@ufl.udn.vn

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Published

2024-05-13

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 6 (2024)

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