This study explores experimentally some of the characteristics of durational production cues in non- native pronunciation of the Japanese consonantal length contrast for three learner groups: Italian, French and English native speakers, based on the different phonological properties of their L1 regarding the presence/absence of such a contrast. Specifically, this paper investigates whether the phonetic implementation of this contrast is based on the same cues as native speakers, or on their L1 production cues. Previous studies have pointed out the crucial role of the presence of a consonantal length contrast in the learner’s L1 in L2 acquisition of a similar contrast. However, the present results suggest that although this might be the case when building separate phonemic categories for short and long consonants, in terms of phonetic implementation, the presence of a consonantal length contrast in the L1 might hinder the acquisition of a native-like timing control.
Cite as: Guillemot, C. (2018) The role of L1 durational correlates in L2 acquisition: A production study of Japanese geminates by Italian, French and English L2 learners. Proc. International Symposium on Applied Phonetics (ISAPh 2018), 57-61, doi: 10.21437/ISAPh.2018-10
@inproceedings{guillemot18_isaph,
author={Céleste Guillemot},
title={{The role of L1 durational correlates in L2 acquisition: A production study of Japanese geminates by Italian, French and English L2 learners}},
year=2018,
booktitle={Proc. International Symposium on Applied Phonetics (ISAPh 2018)},
pages={57--61},
doi={10.21437/ISAPh.2018-10}
}