Accuracy and Variability in Vowel Targets Produced by Native and Non-Native Speakers of English
Keywords
Non-native English speakers, human voice, speech perception, vowel systems
Abstract
The primary issue explored in this investigation concerned how accurately and consistently non‐native, adult speakers learning English as a second language produce vowel targets when compared with native speakers. One possibility is that non‐native speakers show average formant and duration values similar to those of native speakers but are nonetheless more variable across repetitions. Alternatively, they might be ‘‘off‐target’’ but still reasonably consistent in such productions. A group of native speakers (3F and 3M) and a group of Mandarin‐speaking non‐native subjects who had recently come to the United States (3F and 3M) produced at least ten repetitions of each of 20 different English words embedded in a carrier phrase. The first two formant frequencies and duration were measured for seven different vowels. Preliminary findings suggest that the non‐native speakers’ vowel formants were generally quite similar to those of the native speakers, whereas their vowel durations deviated from those of the native speakers. Moreover, the non‐native speakers exhibited greater within‐speaker variability in their vowel productions (across word repetitions) than the native speakers, as well as a greater range in vowel formants and durations across speakers. Findings will be discussed in reference to their implications for second language acquisition and foreign‐accented speech perception.
Original Publication Citation
Nissen, S. L., Smith, B. L., Bradlow, A., & Bent, T. (2004). Accuracy and variability in vowel targets produced by native and non-native speakers of English. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 116(4)A, 2604.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Nissen, Shawn L.; Smith, Bruce L.; Bradlow, Ann; and Bent, Tessa, "Accuracy and Variability in Vowel Targets Produced by Native and Non-Native Speakers of English" (2004). Faculty Publications. 7404.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/7404
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
2004-10-01
Language
English
College
David O. McKay School of Education
Department
Communication Disorders
Copyright Status
© 2004 Acoustical Society of America.
Copyright Use Information
© Brigham Young University. All rights reserved. The information available on this site, including any text, data, artwork, video, audio, images or graphics (collectively, the "Material") may be protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. Entities other than Brigham Young University (BYU) may own copyright in the Material. We encourage use of this Material for non-profit and educational purposes, such as personal research, teaching and private study. For these limited purposes, Material from this web site may be displayed and printed, and all copies must include any copyright notice included with the Material. Except as provided above, or any use beyond what is allowed by fair use (Title 17, § 107 U.S.C.), you may not reproduce, republish, post, transmit or distribute any Material from this web site in any physical or digital form without the permission of the copyright owner of the Material. Inquiries regarding any further use of the Materials contained on this site, please contact the C