Doctoral Dissertation Research: The Use of Segmentation Cues in Second Language Learners of English

语音理解的第一步是分解语音信号并识别单个单词。要做到这一点，必须找到一个单词结束而下一个单词开始的位置。与书面文本不同的是，在书面文本中，词对之间存在视觉差距，而口语中不存在这样可靠的词边界提示。研究表明，以英语为母语的听者可以利用一套线索来切分连续的言语，包括句子的结构和意义，对英语中什么是真正的单词的知识，对单词中某个位置是否允许发音的敏感度，以及对单词某一部分的强调。然而，目前还不清楚这些分段线索是否被非母语听众以类似的方式使用。线索的使用可能会受到非母语听力者英语水平的影响。初级或中级第二语言(L2)学习者可能对英语中什么是真正的单词没有那么成熟的知识。此外，二语学习者对线索的使用可能会受到母语语音特点的影响。四组参与者，包括一组单语英语组和三组非母语组(普通话、韩语和西班牙语)，将参加四个实验。每个实验都将考察二语学习者和母语听者在使用线索方面的不同之处，以及三个二语群体由于母语经验而有何不同。理解言语是语言习得的关键组成部分，识别有助于这一过程的线索将使学习者和教师都受益。美国有近4000万第二语言学习者；英语水平的提高将帮助他们在工作场所变得更具竞争力和生产力。这项研究也有助于培养一位有前途的年轻研究者。

The first step in speech comprehension is to break up the speech signal and identify the individual words. To do so, one must locate where one word ends and the next begins. Unlike in written text, where there is a visual gap between pairs of words, no such reliable cue for word boundaries exists in spoken speech. Research has shown that native English listeners can utilize a set of cues to segment continuous speech, including the structure and meaning of sentences, knowledge of what constitutes a real word in English, sensitivity to whether a sound is allowed in a certain position in the word, and the emphasis given to a part of the word. However, it is not clear whether these segmentation cues are used by nonnative listeners in a similar fashion. The use of cues may be influenced by nonnative listeners' English proficiency. Beginning or intermediate second language (L2) learners may have less established knowledge about what constitute a real word in English. Also, L2 learners' use of cues may be influenced by the characteristics of sounds in their native languages. Four groups of participants, including a monolingual English group and three nonnative groups (Mandarin, Korean, and Spanish), will participate in four experiments. Each experiment will examine how L2 learners differ from native listeners in the use of cues and how the three L2 groups differ from each other as a result of their native language experiences.Understanding speech is a critical component in language acquisition and identifying cues that can facilitate this process will benefit both learners and teachers. There are nearly 40 million L2 learners in the U.S.; improved English proficiency will help them become more competitive and productive in the work place. This study also contributes to the training of a promising young researcher.