Berry Ernestus (Phonetic alignment in English as a lingua franca)

This study investigates the plasticity of phonological boundaries during discourse in a lingua franca. We tracked the production of 34 Spanish learners of English conversing with two Dutch confederates in English across two speech styles, focusing on incremental changes in two key English vowel contrasts with differential effects of cross-linguistic influence (/i/-/ɪ/ and /ɛ/-/æ/). Results indicate that Spaniards align with Dutch confederates, quickly merging /ɛ/ and /æ/ and gradually separating their merged /i/-/ɪ/ category, rather than adopting native-like English production. We found greater merger in informal speech overall. We also found an interaction with time for the /i/-/ɪ/ contrast, indicating that the merged /i/ and /ɪ/ categories gradually separate in informal speech; this effect was not found for /ɛ/-/æ/. Finally, proficiency modulates alignment: the most proficient speakers separate /i/-/ɪ/ and merge /ɛ/-/æ/ more than other speakers. We interpret phonetic alignment as a complex, dynamic phenomenon influenced by proficiency in discourse language and speaking style, and whose effects may unfold rapidly or gradually depending on the phonological category investigated.

Berry, G.M., & Ernestus, M. Phonetic alignment in English as a lingua franca: Coming together while splitting apart. Second Language Research. doi: 10.1177/0267658317737348

本研究探讨了通用语语境中语音边界的可塑性。研究者追踪了34名西班牙语学习者在与两位荷兰合作者在英语中进行的对话中的发音生产，涉及两种不同的口语风格，重点关注两个关键英语元音对比的增量变化，并分析了跨语言影响（/i/-/ɪ/ 和 /ɛ/-/æ/）的不同效果。研究结果指出，西班牙语者与荷兰合作者保持一致，迅速合并 /ɛ/ 和 /æ/，并逐渐分离其合并的 /i/-/ɪ/ 类别，而非采取类似母语者的英语发音方式。研究发现，在非正式口语中，合并现象更为显著。此外，我们还发现，/i/-/ɪ/ 对比与时间存在交互作用，表明合并的 /i/ 和 /ɪ/ 类别在非正式口语中逐渐分离；这种效应在 /ɛ/-/æ/ 对比中并未发现。最后，语言能力调节了这种一致性：最熟练的说话者在分离 /i/-/ɪ/ 和合并 /ɛ/-/æ/ 方面优于其他说话者。我们将语音一致性解释为一个复杂且动态的现象，受话语语言能力及口语风格的影响，其效应可能根据所研究的语音类别而迅速或逐渐显现。