Cover not available

In:English Pronunciation Instruction: Research-based insights
Edited by Anastazija Kirkova-Naskova, Alice Henderson and Jonás Fouz-González
[AILA Applied Linguistics Series 19] 2021
► pp. 255–278

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload Book PDF
EPUB logo with download linkDownload Book EPUB
authorization required

Chapter 11
Acquisition of English onset consonant clusters by L1 Chinese speakers

 | Saint Petersburg State University
 | Saint Petersburg State University
Published online: 13 October 2021
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.19.11lav
Abstract
The present study investigates the syllable modification processes used by L1 Chinese speakers in producing English two-consonant onset clusters. The results show greater pronunciation accuracy for combinations of fricative+liquid, followed by voiceless stop+liquid and voiced stop+liquid clusters. The findings suggest two sources contributing to production errors: L1 influence and coarticulation effects. Transfer from Chinese is manifested in the systematic devoicing of the initial voiced consonant and vowel epenthesis. We argue that a hierarchy of production difficulty is motivated phonetically. This chapter also examines the pedagogical implications of our findings, helping EFL teachers to better understand the source of cluster mispronunciations. Finally, we present teaching techniques which should lead Chinese learners of English to acquire consonant clusters more effectively.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • The present study
    • The acquisition of English syllable structure by L1 Chinese speakers
    • Research questions
  • Research methodology
    • Stimulus materials
    • Participants
    • Procedure
  • Data analysis and results
  • Discussion of results and key findings
  • Pedagogical implications
    • Phase 1.Familiarisation with initial consonant clusters
    • Phase 2.Contrasting and discrimination of initial consonant clusters
    • Phase 3.Follow-up practice
  • Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
  • Appendix
References (47)
References
Abrahamsson, N. (1999). Vowel epenthesis of /sC(C)/ onsets in Spanish/Swedish interphonology: A longitudinal case study. Language Learning, 49(3), 473–508. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Altmann, H., & Kabak, B. (2011). Second language phonology. In N. C. Kula, B. Botma, & K. Nasukawa (Eds.), The Continuum companion to phonology (pp. 298–319). Continuum.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bates, D., Mächler, M., Bolker, B., & Walker, S. (2015). Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4. Journal of Statistical Software, 67(1), 1–48. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Best, C. T., & Tyler, M. D. (2007). Nonnative and second-language speech perception: Commonalities and complementarities. In M. J. Munro & O.-S. Bohn (Eds.), Language experience in second language speech learning: In honor of James Emil Flege (pp. 13–34). John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Boersma, P., & Weenink, D. (2020). Praat: Doing phonetics by computer (Version 6.1.09) [Computer software]. [URL]
Broselow, E., & Finer, D. (1991). Parameter setting in second language phonology and syntax. Second Language Research, 7(1), 35–59. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Broselow, E., Chen, S., & Wang, C. (1998). The emergence of the unmarked in second language phonology. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 20(2), 261–280. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Carlisle, R. (1988). The effects of markedness on epenthesis in Spanish/English interlanguage phonology. Issues and Developments in English and Applied Linguistics, 3, 15–23. [URL]
Celce-Murcia, M., Brinton, D. M., & Goodwin, J. (1996). Teaching pronunciation: A reference for teachers of English to speakers of other languages (1st ed.). Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Chan, A. Y. W. (2006). Strategies used by Cantonese speakers in pronouncing English initial consonant clusters: Insights into the interlanguage phonology of Cantonese ESL learners in Hong Kong. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 44(4), 331–355. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Chang, F.-C. (2004). Chinese-speaking EFL learners’ performances of processing English consonant clusters. International Conference on English Instruction and Assessment, 49–60. [URL]
Chen, S.-W. (2003). Acquisition of English onset clusters by Chinese learners in Taiwan. Linguistics and English Language Postgraduate Conference, 1–10. [URL]
Clements, G. (1990). The role of the sonority cycle in core syllabification. In J. Kingston, & M. E. Beckman (Eds.), Papers in laboratory phonology I: Between the grammar and physic of speech (pp. 282–333). Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1992). The sonority cycle and syllable organization. In W. Dressler, H. Luschutzky, O. Pfeiffer, & J. Rennison (Eds.), Phonologica 1988 (pp. 63–76). Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cole, R. A., & Scott, B. (1974). Toward a theory of speech perception. Psychological Review, 81(4), 348–374. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Davidson, L. (2006). Phonotactics and articulatory coordination interact in phonology: Evidence from non-native production. Cognitive Science, 30(5), 837–862. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Demirezen, M. (2020). Long vowels versus diphthongs in North American English: Which one is easy to recognize and hear? International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, 12(1), 289–309. [URL]
Duanmu, S. (2007). The phonology of standard Chinese (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Eckman, F. R. (1977). Markedness and the contrastive analysis hypothesis. Language Learning, 27(2), 315–330. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1987). The reduction of word-final consonant clusters in interlanguage. In A. James & J. Leather (Eds.), Sound patterns in second language acquisition (pp.143–162). Foris.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Eckman, F. R., & Iverson, G. K. (1993). Sonority and markedness among onset clusters in the interlanguage of ESL learners. Second Language Research, 9(3), 234–252. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Eckman, F. R., Moravcsik, E. A., & Wirth, J. (Eds.). (1986). Markedness. Plenum Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Enochson, K. (2014). L2 production of English onset sC and CC clusters. Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Acquisition of Second Language Speech Concordia Working Papers in Applied Linguistics, 5, 171–184. [URL]
Flege, J. E. (1995). Second language speech learning: Theory, findings and problems. In W. Strange (Ed.), Speech perception and linguistic experience: Issues in cross-language research (pp. 233–277). York Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Garret, A., & Johnson, K. (2013). Phonetic bias in sound change. In A. C. L. Yu (Ed.), Origins of sound change: Approaches to phonologization (pp. 51–97). Oxford University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Groff, P. (1971). Sequences for teaching consonant clusters. Journal of Reading Behavior, 4(1), 59–65. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hansen, J. (2001). Linguistic constraints on the acquisition of English syllable codas by native speakers of Mandarin Chinese. Applied Linguistics, 22(3), 338–365. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Haspelmath, M. (2006). Against markedness (and what to replace it with). Journal of Linguistics, 42(1), 25–70. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Henke, E., Kaisse, E. M., & Wright, R. (2012). Is the sonority sequencing principle an epiphenomenon? In S. Parker (Ed.), The sonority controversy (pp. 65–100). De Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Heselwood, B. (2007). Schwa and the phonotactics of RP English. Transactions of the Philological Society, 105(2) 148–187. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lado, R. (1957). Linguistics across cultures. University of Michigan Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Le Ny, J.-F., & Cordier, F. (2004). Contribution of word meaning and components of familiarity to lexical decision: A study with pseudowords constructed from words with known or unknown meaning. Current Psychology Letters, 12(1), 1–10. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lin, Y.-H. (2001a). Syllable simplification strategies: A stylistic perspective. Language Learning, 1(4), 681–718. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2001b). A constraint-based approach to Chinese speakers’ acquisition of English consonant clusters. Concentric: Studies in English Literature and Linguistics, 27(2), 1–33. [URL]
Miao, R. (2005). Loanword adaptation in Mandarin Chinese: Perceptual, phonological and sociolinguistic factors (Doctoral dissertation). Stony Brook University. . Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Murray, R., & Vennemann, T. (1983). Sound change and syllable structure in Germanic phonology. Language, 59(3), 514–528. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ohala, J. J. (1983). The origin of sound patterns in vocal tract constraints. In P. F. MacNeilage (Ed.), The production of speech (pp. 189–216). Springer. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Orion, G. F. (1997). Pronouncing American English: Sounds, stress and intonation (2nd ed.). Heinle & Heinle.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Prator, C. H., & Robinett, B. W. (1985). Manual of American English pronunciation for adult foreign students (4th ed.). Holt, Rinehart and Winston.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
R Core Team. (2019). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. [Computer software]. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing. [URL]
Selkirk, E. (1982). The syllable. In H. V. D. Hulst & N. Smith (Eds.), The structure of phonological representation (pp. 337–384). Foris.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sherwin, S. (1999). The Sonority sequencing principle in interlanguage phonology. Working Papers in Linguistics, 6, 55–74. [URL]
Steriade, D. (1982). Greek prosodies and the nature of syllabification (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). MIT. [URL]
Szpyra-Kozłowska, J. (2014). Pronunciation in EFL instruction: A research-based approach. Multilingual Matters. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Walden, M. (2014). Native Mandarin speakers’ perception and production of English stop+liquid clusters in onset position. Theses – ALL. Paper 81. [URL]
Wang, C. (1995). The acquisition of English word-final obstruents by Chinese speakers. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zhang, Y., & Xiao, J. (2014). An analysis of Chinese students’ perception and production of paired English fricatives: From an ELF perspective. Journal of Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics, 18(1), 171–192. [URL]
Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue