Relative Difficulty of Understanding Foreign Accents as a Marker of Proficiency
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| Title: | Relative Difficulty of Understanding Foreign Accents as a Marker of Proficiency |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Lev-Ari, Shiri, van Heugten, Marieke, Peperkamp, Sharon |
| Source: | Cognitive Science. May 2017 41(4):1106-1118. |
| Availability: | Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 13 |
| Publication Date: | 2017 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Language Processing, Language Proficiency, Auditory Perception, Pronunciation, Speech Communication, Difficulty Level, Phonology, Second Language Learning, Native Language, Language Research |
| DOI: | 10.1111/cogs.12394 |
| ISSN: | 0364-0213 |
| Abstract: | Foreign-accented speech is generally harder to understand than native-accented speech. This difficulty is reduced for non-native listeners who share their first language with the non-native speaker. It is currently unclear, however, how non-native listeners deal with foreign-accented speech produced by speakers of a different language. We show that the process of (second) language acquisition is associated with an increase in the relative difficulty of processing foreign-accented speech. Therefore, experiencing greater relative difficulty with foreign-accented speech compared with native speech is a marker of language proficiency. These results contribute to our understanding of how phonological categories are acquired during second language learning. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2017 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1141637 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Foreign-accented speech is generally harder to understand than native-accented speech. This difficulty is reduced for non-native listeners who share their first language with the non-native speaker. It is currently unclear, however, how non-native listeners deal with foreign-accented speech produced by speakers of a different language. We show that the process of (second) language acquisition is associated with an increase in the relative difficulty of processing foreign-accented speech. Therefore, experiencing greater relative difficulty with foreign-accented speech compared with native speech is a marker of language proficiency. These results contribute to our understanding of how phonological categories are acquired during second language learning. |
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| ISSN: | 0364-0213 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/cogs.12394 |
