Second Language Pronunciation. Группа авторов

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Название Second Language Pronunciation
Автор произведения Группа авторов
Жанр Языкознание
Серия
Издательство Языкознание
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9781119801573



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and Lyster (2016) provide several examples of perception activities, many traditional communicative language tasks could be adapted with similar results, such as information gap activities or find the difference tasks, in which minimal pairs of interest can be targeted.

      The most obvious challenge to implementing these evidence-based activities in a classroom is the need for multiple instructors to provide the necessary input variability. It would be more practical to utilize recorded speech of multiple talkers, with immediate feedback still provided by the instructor. In mixed L1 classrooms, it might be possible to allow learners to provide input to each other, if they can be paired in such a way that members of each pair don’t have the same L2 pronunciation difficulties. For example, a Spanish L1 speaker could provide /l/-/ɹ/ pairs to a Japanese L1 speaker for whom this pair is problematic.

      Practical Resources for Pedagogy

      While many HVPT studies have examined this technique’s efficacy in the lab, their focus tends to be very narrow, investigating only a small number of sounds in a small number of phonetic or word contexts. As such, they do not comprise complete training systems which can be turned public-facing for consumption by a wide range of learners. Nor do they typically provide the opportunity for scalable research, since they are largely designed for one-off studies investigating a specific pronunciation issue faced by a particular group of learners. Even platforms that have been used to conduct research in the context of real language programs suffer from similar limitations (e.g., Thomson, 2011, 2012a; Wang & Munro, 2004.

      Both LA and EAC allow learners to create personal accounts to track their progress over time. LA is offered on a per semester basis, for a nominal fee, whereas EAC is currently free. Thomson (2012b) provides a detailed teacher-oriented description of EAC, along with some suggestions for activities to extend learning from the computer to the classroom. LA has less public documentation. Ultimately, both applications would benefit from built-in modules to encourage learners to practice the production of sounds that they are learning to perceive. This may facilitate faster transfer to production.

      While it may be theoretically possible for instructors to build their own HVPT systems, if the goal is to include many talkers and sounds in many contexts, the recording process alone is a massive obstacle to overcome. Ideally, publicly available programs would provide the basic infrastructure and sound database, with the possibility of instructors adding targeted recordings of particular words as needed. With improvements in Text-to-Speech technology, it might be possible to create stimuli using a wider range of artificial voices, assuming that they all reflect the same target accent variety.

      Conclusion

      In this chapter, I have argued that just as speech perception plays a central role in L1 pronunciation development, it is also essential to L2 pronunciation learning. Despite this fact, most instruction continues to be production-oriented. The mismatch between what researchers know about L2 pronunciation development and what teachers practice is in part attributable to a lack of communication between researchers and teachers. Most of the L2 speech perception literature is not written for an applied audience. I have attempted to bridge that gap by highlighting key information to allow teachers to incorporate evidence-based principles from the literature into their pronunciation teaching. The chapter also focuses on some promising developments in public-facing perceptual training applications and platforms, which will hopefully continue to move this area of research forward, with resulting benefits for learners.

      Postscript

      Author Biography

      Ron Thomson is Professor of Applied Linguistics/TESL at Brock University. His research interests include the relationship between L2 speech perception and production, L2 oral fluency, and the use of technology to promote L2 pronunciation learning. He is also the creator of www.englishaccentcoach.com, an online perception-oriented pronunciation trainer.

      References

      1 Baker, W., & Trofimovich, P. (2006). Perceptual paths to accurate production of L2 vowels: The role of individual differences. International Review of Applied Linguistics, 44, 231–250. https://doi.org/10.1515/iral.2006.010

      2 Baker Smemoe, W., & Haslam, N. (2013). The effect of language learning aptitude, strategy use and learning context on L2 pronunciation learning. Applied Linguistics, 34(4), 435–456. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/ams066

      3 Bent, T., Bradlow, A. R., & Smith, B. L. (2007). Segmental errors in different word positions and their effects on intelligibility of non-native speech. In O.-S. Bohn & M. J. Munro (Eds.), Language experience in second language speech learning: In honor of James Emil Flege (pp. 331–347). John Benjamins.

      4 Best, C. T., & Tyler, M. (2007). Nonnative and second-language speech perception. In O.-S. Bohn & M. J. Munro (Eds.), Language experience in second language speech learning: In honour of James Emil Flege (pp. 13–34). John Benjamins.

      5 Borden, G., Gerber, A., & Milsark, G. (1983). Production and perception of the /r/-/l/ contrast in Korean adults learning English. Language Learning, 33(4), 499–526. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-1770.1983.tb00946.x

      6 Bradlow, A. R., Pisoni, D. B., Akahane-Yamada, R., & Tohkura, Y. (1997). Training Japanese listeners to identify English /r/ and /l/: IV. Some effects of perceptual learning on speech production. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 101(4), 2299–2310. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.418276

      7 Brown, A. (1991). Functional load and the teaching of pronunciation. In A. Brown (Ed.), Teaching English pronunciation: A book of readings (pp. 211–224). Routledge.

      8 Brown, C. A. (1998). The role of the L1 grammar in the L2 acquisition