Development of L2 prosody
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Atsushi Fujimori
Abstract
This study examines the development of L2 English prosody as associated with information focus by Japanese EFL (JEFL) learners. Comprehension, perception, and production tasks were conducted with 54 participants in three sub-groups: low proficiency level JEFLs, high proficiency level JEFLs, and native English speakers. Results show that the low-level JEFLs could identify which parts of sentences require focus but they could not successfully perceive nor produce three different prosodic patterns associated with information focus. In contrast, high proficiency JEFLs demonstrated native-like performance, with a slight difficulty in producing post-focal compression. Our findings have implications for the syntax-discourse-prosody interface: (i) the interface knowledge develops through multiple stages, and (ii) the discourse-prosody interface is challenging for L2 learners.
Abstract
This study examines the development of L2 English prosody as associated with information focus by Japanese EFL (JEFL) learners. Comprehension, perception, and production tasks were conducted with 54 participants in three sub-groups: low proficiency level JEFLs, high proficiency level JEFLs, and native English speakers. Results show that the low-level JEFLs could identify which parts of sentences require focus but they could not successfully perceive nor produce three different prosodic patterns associated with information focus. In contrast, high proficiency JEFLs demonstrated native-like performance, with a slight difficulty in producing post-focal compression. Our findings have implications for the syntax-discourse-prosody interface: (i) the interface knowledge develops through multiple stages, and (ii) the discourse-prosody interface is challenging for L2 learners.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Introduction 1
-
L2 acquisition of syntax
- Intervention effects in L1 and L2 English raising 11
- Explaining the difficulty with L2 acquisition of scope interpretation by speakers of a scope-rigid language 41
- Definiteness and argument position in the interpretation of bare nouns 67
- L1-Mandarin L2-English learners’ acquisition of English double-quantifier scope 93
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L2 acquisition at interfaces
- Feature dependency and the poverty of the stimulus in the acquisition of L2 German plural allomorphy 117
- Development of L2 prosody 137
- Transfer of prosodic representation 157
-
Impact of previously learned languages
- The role of L1 Norwegian and L2 English in the acquisition of verb placement in L3 German 191
- Feature reconfiguration at the syntax-discourse interface 213
-
Exploring extra-linguistic factors and their impact on L2 acquisition
- Interference-based and capacity-based approaches to working memory in second language sentence processing 243
- Heritage language speakers inform the critical period hypothesis for first and second language acquisition 265
- A different type of RC attachment resolution 287
- Subject Index 315
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Introduction 1
-
L2 acquisition of syntax
- Intervention effects in L1 and L2 English raising 11
- Explaining the difficulty with L2 acquisition of scope interpretation by speakers of a scope-rigid language 41
- Definiteness and argument position in the interpretation of bare nouns 67
- L1-Mandarin L2-English learners’ acquisition of English double-quantifier scope 93
-
L2 acquisition at interfaces
- Feature dependency and the poverty of the stimulus in the acquisition of L2 German plural allomorphy 117
- Development of L2 prosody 137
- Transfer of prosodic representation 157
-
Impact of previously learned languages
- The role of L1 Norwegian and L2 English in the acquisition of verb placement in L3 German 191
- Feature reconfiguration at the syntax-discourse interface 213
-
Exploring extra-linguistic factors and their impact on L2 acquisition
- Interference-based and capacity-based approaches to working memory in second language sentence processing 243
- Heritage language speakers inform the critical period hypothesis for first and second language acquisition 265
- A different type of RC attachment resolution 287
- Subject Index 315
