Cross-Linguistic Influence on Chinese Trilingual Speakers’ Pronunciation: L2 Proficiency and Language Distance

Yue Sun

Abstract


This study investigated the cross-linguistic influence (CLI) of L2 proficiency on plosive production of Chinese trilingual speakers. Speech experiments were conducted to compare participants’ verbal production of bilabial plosives in Chinese (L1), English (L2) and Italian (L3). The results showed that the closer the (actual) language distance is, the easier the specific phonemic inventory can be acquired. The proficiency level of L2 and language distance co-effected the transfer pattern. Advanced learners in L2 performed better on the acquisition of new phonetic categories in L3 due to their richer learning experience. When it comes to L2 & L3 shared phonetic categories, L2 intermediate group received stronger CLI from L1 than L2 advanced group. The L1&L2&L3 shared phonetic categories were easily picked up by all the L3 learners in L3 production.


Keywords


Third language acquisition; L2 proficiency; Cross-linguistic influence

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/12781

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