RUI: Effects of speaking rate on native English speakers' acquisition of Japanese vowel length contrast

RUI：语速对英语母语者习得日语元音长度对比的影响

• 批准号: 0418246
• 负责人: Yukari Hirata
• 金额: $ 11.28万
• 依托单位: Colgate University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-09-01 至 2007-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0418246&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Effects; speaking; rate; native

With National Science Foundation support, Dr. Yukari Hirata will investigate the perception of second language (L2) vowel length contrasts in sentences produced at various speaking rates. The vowel length distinction (short versus long) is phonemic in Japanese, but is difficult for native English speakers to acquire. A long vowel is by definition longer in duration than a short vowel, but a long vowel spoken quickly can actually be shorter than a short vowel spoken slowly. It is not known how learners of Japanese process such speaking rate variations and learn to distinguish vowel length accurately. Studying the vowel length distinction in a sentence context is particularly important, since previous research has shown that native listeners use sentence rate for making duration-based distinctions, and that they automatically adjust their perception of a segment based on the speaking rate. This study will provide important insights into the ability of "nonnative listeners" to utilize cues from speaking rate in the perceptual learning process. The project will investigate the extent to which three types of perceptual training in the laboratory assist native English speakers in learning to perceive Japanese vowel length distinction: training with a slow speaking rate, training with a fast rate, and training with both slow and fast rates. The hypothesis is that sentences spoken at varied rates (slow and fast) contain more diverse and rich acoustic cues than sentences spoken only at a slow or a fast rate, and that the richer cues will aid nonnative listeners in adjusting speaking rate and in identifying short/long vowels accurately. This research will increase our understanding of the relationship between speech input and perceptual learning, an important issue for theories of L2 acquisition. The broader impacts of this research are several: First, the research will serve as a foundation on which practical improvement can be made in L2 pedagogy and computer-assisted L2 learning. This project has the potential to significantly improve current methods of language instruction, which is beneficial to society as a whole, given increasing globalization and the attendant need for individuals to be able to communicate effectively across cultures. Second, the project allows for integration of research into the educational experience of undergraduate students, helping to expose them to the excitement of scientific inquiry. Third, the development of the infrastructure for this research at Colgate University will enable undergraduates to participate in additional phonetics studies even when the current project is concluded. Creating an on-campus lab for phonetic research will enrich and diversify science education at an undergraduate institution.

在国家科学基金会的支持下，Yukari Hirata博士将研究在不同说话速度下产生的句子中第二语言（L2）元音长度对比的感知。元音长度的区别（短与长）在日语中是音位的，但英语母语者很难习得。根据定义，长元音的持续时间比短元音长，但是说得快的长元音实际上比说得慢的短元音短。日语学习者是如何处理这种语速变化并学会准确区分元音长度的，这一点尚不清楚。在句子语境中研究元音长度的区别是特别重要的，因为以前的研究表明，母语听众使用句子速率进行基于持续时间的区分，并且他们会自动调整他们对基于语速的片段的感知。本研究将提供重要的见解的能力，“非母语的听众”利用线索的语速在知觉学习过程中。该项目将调查在何种程度上三种类型的感知训练在实验室帮助母语为英语的人学习感知日语元音长度的区别：训练与慢速说话的速度，训练与快速，训练与慢速和快速。该假设是，句子在不同的速度（慢和快）包含更多样化和丰富的声学线索比句子只说在一个缓慢或快速的速度，和更丰富的线索将帮助非母语的听众在调整语速和识别短/长元音准确。本研究将加深我们对语音输入与知觉学习之间关系的理解，这是二语习得理论中的一个重要问题。本研究的广泛影响有以下几个方面：首先，本研究将为二语教学法和计算机辅助二语学习的实际改进奠定基础。这个项目有可能大大改进目前的语言教学方法，这对整个社会都是有益的，因为全球化日益发展，个人也随之需要能够有效地进行跨文化交流。其次，该项目允许将研究融入本科生的教育经验，帮助他们接触科学探究的兴奋。第三，科尔盖特大学为这项研究开发的基础设施将使本科生即使在目前的项目结束后也能参加额外的语音学研究。创建一个语音研究的校园实验室将丰富和多样化的本科院校的科学教育。