A moving target? Comparing within-talker variability in vowel production between native and non-native English speakers across two speech styles

2012 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
pp. 1935-1935
Author(s):  
Catherine L. Rogers ◽  
Amber Gordon ◽  
Melitza Pizarro
Keyword(s):  
Native English Speakers ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Moving Target ◽  
Vowel Production ◽  
Talker Variability ◽  
Speech Styles

scholarly journals Native English speakers learning Arabic: The influence of novel orthographic information on second language phonological acquisition

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
CATHERINE E. SHOWALTER ◽  
RACHEL HAYES-HARB
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Word Learning ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Word Form ◽  
Phonological Acquisition ◽  
Talker Variability

ABSTRACTRecent research has indicated that learners exposed to second language words’ orthographic forms of words can often use this information to make inferences about the words’ phonological forms. Here we asked, do learners benefit even when the orthography is unfamiliar? We taught native English speakers minimal nonword pairs differentiated by the Arabic velar–uvular contrast (e.g., [kubu], [qubu]) and manipulated the quality of orthographic input. We found that participants were consistently unable to associate the novel phonemes with novel words. Results are discussed in terms of (a) the role of orthographic input in second language word form learning, (b) the influence of orthographic familiarity in moderating the role of orthographic input, and (c) the issue of talker variability in word learning.

Effects of Altered Fundamental Frequency on Nasalance during Vowel Production by Adult Speakers at Targeted Sound Pressure Levels

2009 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry C. Mandulak ◽  
David J. Zajac
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Vowel Production ◽  
Chapel Hill ◽  
Velopharyngeal Function ◽  
The University ◽  
Normal Speech

Objective: This study investigated the effects of altered fundamental frequency (F0) on nasalance levels of the vowels /i/ and /a/ produced by adults without cleft palate within a controlled sound pressure level (SPL) range. Design: A prospective group design with convenience sampling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was used. Participants: 20 men and 20 women participated, aged 18 to 55 years. All were native English speakers with normal speech and language skills and adequate velopharyngeal function. Main Outcome Measures: The outcome measures were percentage nasalance obtained from the Nasometer 6200 (KayPentax) headset and the Computerized Speech Lab Model 4400 (CSL, KayPentax) during vowel production while speakers (1) targeted an SPL range of 75 to 85 dB and (2) targeted the SPL plus F0 range of 165 to 175 Hz. Results: A significant univariate effect was found for the vowels /i/ and /a/ in the targeted SPL condition such that /i/ was produced with higher nasalance than /a/. A significant univariate effect was also found during production of /a/ in the targeted SPL plus F0 condition such that men produced /a/ with higher nasalance than women did. Conclusions: SPL appears to largely account for percentage nasalance differences between the vowels /i/ and /a/ produced by adult male and female speakers. Increased F0 by male speakers appears to influence percentage nasalance during production of the vowel /a/. Clinical implications in regard to assessment of hypernasality are discussed.

Effectiveness of Two Different Approaches to Accent Modification Services for Non-Native English Speakers of Korean Background

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Ann S. Lee ◽  
Sherry Sancibrian
Keyword(s):  
Native English Speakers ◽  
The Other ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Vowel Production ◽  
Minimal Pairs ◽  
Similar Percentage ◽  
Correct Pronunciation ◽  
Korean Speakers ◽  
Accent Modification ◽  
Segmental Approach

This study evaluated effectiveness of two different approaches to accent modification for non-native English speakers. Eight native Korean speakers of English participated. English labio-dental fricatives, liquids, and front vowels were targeted. Half of the participants received accent modification services with a focus on individual sound drills (segmental approach) while the other half received services using minimal pairs (contrastive approach). The percentage of correct pronunciation was measured for each consonant and vowel category during each session. The results of this study revealed that both groups of Korean speakers showed a similar percentage of correct pronunciation for consonant production. However, those who received the contrastive approach demonstrated higher accuracy in vowel production than those who received the segmental approach. The results of this study suggest that contrastive approaches may be useful for non-native English speakers of Korean background, especially for vowel production.

The cognitive saliency of word associations of verbs of speech in English as a Lingua Franca interactions

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-443
Author(s):  
Yang Pang
Keyword(s):  
Common Ground ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Target Language ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Word Associations ◽  
Similar Word ◽  
Speech Communities

AbstractBuilding on the theoretical insights into the socio-cognitive approach to the study of interactions in which English is used as a lingua franca (ELF)), this paper reports on the idiosyncratic phenomenon that ELF speakers do not adhere to the norms of native speakers, but instead create their own particular word associations during the course of the interaction. Taking the verbs of speech talk, say, speak, and tell as examples, this study compares word associations from three corpora of native and non-native speakers. The findings of this study reveal that similar word associative patterns are produced and shared by ELF speech communities from different sociocultural backgrounds, and these differ substantially from those used by native English speakers. Idiom-like constructions such as say like, how to say, and speakin are developed and utilized by Asian and European ELF speakers. Based on these findings, this paper concludes that ELF speakers use the prefabricated expressions in the target language system only as references, and try to develop their own word associative patterns in ELF interactions. Moreover, the analysis of the non-literalness/metaphorical word associations of the verbs of speech in the Asian ELF corpus suggests that ELF speakers dynamically co-construct their shared common ground to derive non-literal/metaphorical meaning in actual situational context.

Speech Rate Is No Simple matter

1990 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracey M. Derwing
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Pause Time ◽  
Short Film ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Articulation Rate ◽  
Simple Matter ◽  
Communicative Success

Speech rate (articulation rate and pauses) was examined for its relation to communicative success. Native English speakers (NSs) were paired with other NSs and with non-native speakers (NNSs). The subjects viewed a short film, the content of which they were to relay to their two partners independently. Communicative success was measured through comprehension questions addressed to the listeners at the completion of the task. Analyses indicated that although a slight majority of NSs slowed their speech rate for NNSs, they did not adjust articulation rate, but did significantly increase pause time. Neither speech rate nor articulation rate varied over the course of the narrations. Contrary to intuition, the subjects who successfully communicated the story to NNSs did not adjust their speech rate, while those who had difficulty communicating with NNSs increased pause time significantly. The implications of the findings are discussed, and suggestions for further research are made.

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