Suzukida, Y;
Saito, K;
(2022)
What is second language pronunciation proficiency? An empirical study.
System
, 106
, Article 102754. 10.1016/j.system.2022.102754.
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Abstract
The current study set out to examine which segmental and suprasegmental factors discriminate different levels of global second language (L2) pronunciation proficiency. First, a total of 40 extemporaneous speech samples were elicited from Japanese learners of English with diverse experience/proficiency levels. Subsequently, experienced raters holistically assessed the global pronunciation qualities of the samples using the rubrics in IETLS Pronunciation Scale (Low to High). Finally, the dataset was submitted to a comprehensive set of segmental and suprasegmental measures. The results revealed that the raters attended to, in particular, the ratio of segmental errors with high communicative value (determined via the functional load principle) to distinguish between Low- and Mid-level L2 pronunciation proficiency. Other specific measures—segmental errors with low communicative value, the schwa vowel insertion in complex syllables, and the absence of word stress—played a significant role in the raters’ decision to assign high ratings to identify High-level L2 pronunciation proficiency.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | What is second language pronunciation proficiency? An empirical study |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.system.2022.102754 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2022.102754 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Second language pronunciation, Pronunciation proficiency, Segmentals, Suprasegmentals |
| UCL classification: | UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Culture, Communication and Media UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education UCL |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10145035 |
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