Enhancing lexical tone learning for second language speakers: effects of acoustic properties in Mandarin tone perception.

Autor:	Cao M; Optimal Learning Lab, Department of Psychology, Institute for Intelligent Systems, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States., Pavlik PI Jr; Optimal Learning Lab, Department of Psychology, Institute for Intelligent Systems, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States., Bidelman GM; Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States.; Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States.; Cognitive Science Program, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Frontiers in psychology [Front Psychol] 2024 Aug 21; Vol. 15, pp. 1403816. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 21 (Print Publication: 2024).
DOI:	10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1403816
Abstrakt:	Understanding the challenges faced by second language (L2) learners in lexical tone perception is crucial for effective language acquisition. This study investigates the impact of exaggerated acoustic properties on facilitating Mandarin tone learning for English speakers. Using synthesized tone stimuli, we systematically manipulated pitch contours through three key modifications: expanding the fundamental frequency (F0), increasing F0 (female voice), and extending the overall duration. Our objectives were to assess the influence of F0 expansion, higher F0, longer duration, and varied syllables on Mandarin tone learning and generalization. Participants engaged in a non-adaptive trial-by-trial tone identification task. Mixed-effects logistic regression modeling was used to analyze accuracy across learning phases, acoustic factors, and tones. Findings reveal improvements in accuracy from training to testing and generalization phases, indicating the effectiveness of perceptual training to tone perception for adult English speakers. Tone 1 emerged as the easiest to perceive, while Tone 3 posed the most challenge, consistent with established hierarchies of tonal acquisition difficulty. Analysis of acoustic factors highlighted tone-specific effects. Expanded F0 was beneficial for the identification of Tone 2 and Tone 3 but posed challenges for Tone 1 and Tone 4. Additionally, longer durations also exhibited varied effects across tones, aiding in the identification of Tone 3 and Tone 4 but hindering Tone 1 identification. The higher F0 was advantageous for Tone 2 but disadvantageous for Tone 3. Furthermore, the syllable ma facilitated the identification of Tone 1 and Tone 2 but not for Tone 3 and Tone 4. These findings enhance our understanding of the role of acoustic properties in L2 tone perception and have implications for the design of effective training programs for second language acquisition. Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision. (Copyright © 2024 Cao, Pavlik and Bidelman.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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