scholarly journals Exploring the Complexity of the L2 Intonation System: An Acoustic and Eye-Tracking Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Di Liu ◽  
Marnie Reed
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Information Structure ◽  
Acoustic Feature ◽  
Real Time Processing ◽  
Visual Enhancement ◽  
Sentence Level ◽  
Pitch Level ◽  
Sentence Stress ◽  
L1 English ◽  
L2 Pronunciation

Phonological research has demonstrated that English intonation, variably referred to as prosody, is a multidimensional and multilayered system situated at the interface of information structure, morphosyntactic structure, phonological phenomena, and pragmatic functions. The structural and functional complexity of the intonational system, however, is largely under-addressed in L2 pronunciation teaching, leading to a lack of spontaneous use of intonation despite successful imitation in classrooms. Focusing on contrastive and implicational sentence stress, this study explored the complexity of the English intonation system by investigating how L1 English and Mandarin-English L2 speakers use multiple acoustic features (i.e., pitch range, pitch level, duration, and intensity) in signaling contrastive and implicational information and how one acoustic feature (maximum pitch level) is affected by information structure (contrast), morphosyntactic structure (phrasal boundary), and a phonological phenomenon (declination) in L1 English and Mandarin-English L2 speakers' speech. Using eye-tracking technology, we also investigated (1) L1 English and Mandarin-English L2 speakers' real-time processing of lexical items that carry information structure (i.e., contrast) and typically receive stress in L1 speakers' speech; (2) the influence of visual enhancement (italics and bold) on L1 English and Mandarin-English L2 speakers' processing of contrastive information; and (3) L1 English and Mandarin-English L2 speakers' processing of pictures with contrastive information. Statistical analysis using linear mixed-effects models showed that L1 English speakers and Mandarin-English L2 speakers differed in their use of acoustic cues in signaling contrastive and implicational information. They also differed in the use of maximum pitch level in signaling sentence stress influenced by contrast, phrasal boundary, and declination. We did not find differences in L1 English and Mandarin-English L2 speakers' processing of contrastive and implicational information at the sentence level, but the two groups of participants differ in their processing of contrastive information in passages and pictures. These results suggest that processing limitations may be the reason why L2 speakers did not use English intonation spontaneously. The findings of this study also suggest that Complexity Theory (CT), which emphasizes the complex and dynamic nature of intonation, is a theoretical framework that has the potential of bridging the gap between L2 phonology and L2 pronunciation teaching.

Phonetic Correlates of Word and Sentence Stress

2020 ◽  
pp. 149-165
Author(s):  
Vincent J. van Heuven ◽  
Alice Turk
Keyword(s):  
Information Structure ◽  
Temporal Organization ◽  
Specific Structure ◽  
Perceptual Cues ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Acoustic Correlates ◽  
Sentence Level ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Sentence Stress ◽  
Germanic Languages

This chapter reviews the acoustic correlates and perceptual cues of linguistic stress at the word and sentence level, mainly in English and other Germanic languages. A first theme is whether word and sentence stress can be ordered monotonically along the same phonetic scale, rather than involving different acoustic parameters and perceptual dimensions. Other topics are the phonetic reflexes of the Alternation Principle (‘NoClash’) and of changes in information structure as well as the effect of sentence stress on the temporal organization of words and phrases. The work on non-Germanic languages raises the issue of the weighting of stress correlates and its possible interaction with language-specific structure. Two hypotheses are evaluated: (i) languages will mark the difference between stressed and unstressed syllables more forcefully as word stress location is less predictable and (ii) a stress correlate will be less important if it is involved elsewhere in the phonology of the language.

Deep Case, Text Surface, and Information Structure

1978 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnel Källgren
Keyword(s):  
Information Structure ◽  
Sentence Level ◽  
Textual Cohesion ◽  
Important Notion ◽  
Theoretical Apparatus ◽  
Empirical Analyses

This article is an attempt at combining sentence level and text level by similar means of analysis, based on a DEEP CASE MODEL. Tentative lists of DEEP CASES and TEXTUAL RELATIONS are given and discussed.The theoretical apparatus has been developed through empirical analyses of important notion of LINK FAMILY is introduced. The ultimate goal of this type of analysis is to find the INFORMATION STRUCTURE of texts, but its connections wiht e.g. “pure” TEXTUAL COHESION are also treated.

scholarly journals The relationship between phonotactic awareness and pronunciation in adult second language learners

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-214
Author(s):  
Hanna Kivistö-de Souza
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
L1 English ◽  
L2 Pronunciation

Abstract: This study examined to what extent L1 Brazilian Portuguese (BP) EFL learners are aware of L2 phonotactics and whether there would be a relationship between L2 phonotactic awareness and L2 pronunciation accuracy. The language learners were tested regarding their awareness of L2 onset consonant clusters with a lexical decision task presenting nonword stimuli with legal and illegal onset clusters. L2 pronunciation was measured with a Foreign Accent Rating Task. The results showed that L1 BP participants showed a high awareness concerning L2 phonotactics, not differing from L1 English speakers, t(86)=.20, p =.83. Furthermore, high phonotactic awareness was found to be related to higher accuracy in L2 pronunciation (r= -.46, p <.001). The results suggest that phonotactics should be taught in foreign language classrooms since increasing learners’ awareness might be beneficial for the accuracy of their L2 pronunciation.

scholarly journals Phonological priming in German Sign Language: An eye tracking study using the Visual World Paradigm

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Wienholz ◽  
Derya Nuhbalaoglu ◽  
Markus Steinbach ◽  
Annika Herrmann ◽  
Nivedita Mani
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Sign Language ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Priming Effect ◽  
Phonological Priming ◽  
Target Sign ◽  
Sign Recognition ◽  
Sentence Level ◽  
German Sign Language ◽  
Prime Target

Various studies provide evidence for a phonological priming effect in the recognition of single signs based on phonological parameters, i.e., handshape, location and movement. In addition, some of these studies show that phonological parameters influence this effect differently. The current eye tracking study on German Sign Language examined the presence of a phonological priming effect at the sentence level depending on the phonological relation of prime-target sign pairs. We recorded participants’ eye movements while presenting a video of sentences containing either related or unrelated prime-target sign pairs, and a picture of the target and the distractor. The data provided evidence for a phonological priming effect for sign pairs sharing handshape and movement while differing in location. Moreover, a difference between parameters in their contribution to sign recognition was suggested such that recognition was facilitated for signs sharing handshape, but was inhibited for signs sharing location. Showing that sub-lexical features influence sign language processing.

Information structure in canonical and scrambled dative orders in L2 Korean

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (s1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyae-Sung Park
Keyword(s):  
Information Structure ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Syntactic Complexity ◽  
Double Object ◽  
Indirect Object ◽  
Null Arguments ◽  
Dative Alternation ◽  
New Information ◽  
The Given ◽  
L1 English

AbstractThe Given-before-New Principle holds in adult speech: Given information tends to precede new information. For instance, in the English dative alternation, the given-theme – i.e., the direct object [DO] – tends to precede the new-recipient – i.e., the indirect object [IO] – in the prepositional dative (e.g., John gave the books to some children), while the given-recipient tends to precede the new-theme in the double object dative (e.g., John gave the children some books). Likewise, in Korean datives, the given-recipient tends to occur earlier in the canonical [IO–DO] order, while the given-theme tends to occur earlier in the scrambled [DO–IO] order. This study investigates whether L1-English adult L2ers of Korean, who have knowledge of the Given-before-New Principle in their L1, automatically adhere to it in their interlanguage. L2ers’ choices between canonical and scrambled dative orders were tested using novel oral contextualized preference tasks. The native speakers of Korean overwhelmingly complied with the Given-before-New Principle. However, the intermediate-to-advanced L2ers exhibited a strong bias for the (default) canonical [IO–DO] order, which apparently overrode the Given-before-New Principle. The findings of analyses by group and by individual are discussed in terms of frequency, syntactic complexity, processing, and null arguments.

scholarly journals Visual and oculomotor abilities predict professional baseball batting performance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sicong Liu ◽  
Frederick R. Edmunds ◽  
Kyle Burris ◽  
Lawrence Gregory Appelbaum
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Propensity Scores ◽  
Doppler Radar ◽  
Professional Baseball ◽  
Baseball Players ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Pitch Level ◽  
Batting Performance ◽  
Nested Regression

AbstractScientists and practitioners have long debated about the specific visual skills needed to excel at hitting a pitched baseball. This study aimed to advance the debate by evaluating the relationship between pre-season visual and oculomotor evaluations and pitch-by-pitch season performance data from professional baseball batters. Eye tracking, visual-motor, and optometric evaluations collected during spring training 2018 were obtained from 71 professional baseball players. Pitch-level data from Trackman 3D Doppler radar were obtained from these players during the subsequent season and used to generate batting propensity scores for swinging at pitches out of the strike zone (O-Swing), swinging at pitches in the strike zone (Z-Swing), and swinging at, but missing pitches in the strike zone (Z-Miss). Nested regression models were used to test which vision-related evaluation(s) could best predict the standardized plate discipline scores as well as the batters’ highest attained league levels during the season. Results indicated that visual evaluations relying on eye tracking (e.g., smooth pursuit accuracy and oculomotor processing speed) significantly predicted the highest attained league level and the propensity scores associated with O-Swing and Z-Swing, but not Z-Miss. These exploratory findings indicate that batters with superior visual and oculomotor abilities are generally more discerning at the plate. When combined with other known performance advantages in perceptual and cognitive abilities for elite athletes, these results provide a wholistic view of visual expertise in athletes.

De Prosodie Van De Tussentaal Van Tweede-/Vreemde- Taalleerders

2004 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 125-134
Author(s):  
Laurent Rasier
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Foreign Accent ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Functional Aspects ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Sentence Stress ◽  
The Way ◽  
L2 Pronunciation

In SLA research, the study of prosody suffers from a considerable under-representation. Indeed, most work devoted to L2 pronunciation has hitherto focussed on 'lower level phenomena', such as the phonemes of the target language. This paper gives an overview of the research on the acquisition of a foreign accent system and pinpoints some research questions that have not been explored yet. More specifically, it discusses the phonetic, phonological and functional aspects of the accent system of second/foreign language learners. Attention is also paid to the studies dealing with the teaching of sentence stress to second/foreign language learners. Although more research is needed, this paper provides a better understanding of the way a new accent system is acquired/learnt and can be taught.

scholarly journals What Can Eye Movements Tell Us about Higher Level Comprehension?

Vision ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Anne E. Cook ◽  
Wei Wei
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Discourse Processing ◽  
Word Level ◽  
Anaphor Resolution ◽  
Sentence Level ◽  
Theoretical Issues

The majority of eye tracking studies in reading are on issues dealing with word level or sentence level comprehension. By comparison, relatively few eye tracking studies of reading examine questions related to higher level comprehension in processing of longer texts. We present data from an eye tracking study of anaphor resolution in order to examine specific issues related to this discourse phenomenon and to raise more general methodological and theoretical issues in eye tracking studies of discourse processing. This includes matters related to the design of materials as well as the interpretation of measures with regard to underlying comprehension processes. In addition, we provide several examples from eye tracking studies of discourse to demonstrate the kinds of questions that may be addressed with this methodology, particularly with respect to the temporality of processing in higher level comprehension and how such questions correspond to recent theoretical arguments in the field.

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