When Variability Matters in Second Language Word Learning

Zusatztext

This study investigates how training with multiple talkers can affect native English speakers acquisition of the novel Arabic pharyngeal-glottal consonant contrasts. Learners performance on two discrimination tasks, following a word-learning phase is analyzed in terms of training type (multiple talkers vs. single talker) and task type (non-lexical vs. lexical). The findings of the study confirm the hypothesis that variability in talkers can contribute to acquiring non-native contrasting consonant phonemes. The results also showed that different task demands often do not necessarily influence learners ability to differentiate novel contrastive consonants.

Autorenportrait

Dr. Shehata received her PhD in Linguistics from the University of Utah in 2013. Her research interests include second language (L2)acquisition in general, with particular focus on L2 phonology and word recognition. Her main research questions explore the perception of L2 sounds and how different linguistic experience shapes L2 speech perception.

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