Abstract: Adults are able to use statistical distributional information to acquire phonemes. This studyinvestigates whether exposure to phonological distributional information is sufficient forsecond language learners to determine whether two sounds belong to separate phonemesor are allophones of a single phoneme.
2014 - 2015
Kristie Durham (PhD Linguistics)
Abstract: Showalter and Hayes-Harb (2013) found that leaners could use unfamiliar
orthographic symbols, in the form of tone marks, to remember lexical tones associated
with new L2 words. Although the tone marks were facilitatory, the question of whether
leaners created lexical representations that included orthographic information, or
whether the marks simply focused learners’ attention on differences in auditory forms,
helping them learn by virtue of noticing the different tones, is open. The question
we are asking is whether the orthographic effects observed in Showalter and Hayes-Harb
(2013) might also be observed given systematic, visual input that is not strictly orthographic and may merely cue learners to differences in the auditory
forms. The types of visual input we investigate include color and screen positioning
of various elements, whereby either color or position correspond to specific tones
in a learning phase. By informing us of the type of visual information learners can
access in phonological acquisition, this study potentially informs second language
pedagogy
Kelsey Brown ( MA Linguistics)
Abstract: Recent research indicates that L2 learners use orthographic information, including spelled forms and diacritics, to infer information about the phonological forms of words. When the L2 does not follow the orthographic conventions of a learner’s L1 orthography, the learner may create non-target like lexical representations which lead to non-target like pronunciations. A previous study found that exposure to spelled forms may also hinder a learner’s ability to acquire a phonological rule such as word-final obstruent devoicing in German. Namely, learners who saw spelled forms of words were significantly more likely to incorrectly pronounce them with voiced final obstruents. This study investigates whether explicit instruction about misleading grapheme-phoneme correspondences in the L2 can improve learners’ acquisition of a phonological rule despite exposure to spelled forms. Prior to learning new words, participants will be informed that words in German are not always said how they are spelled and given examples such as “A ‘b’ at the end of the word is pronounced ‘p.’” Results will then be analyzed to see if participants given instruction about pronunciation significantly differ from those that did not receive instruction in their pronunciation of the learned words.
2013 - 2014
Bill Roundy
Julia Menéndez Jardón
2012 - 2013
Amanda Rabideau (MA Linguistics)
Jeff Green (BA Linguistics, Russian)
Abstract: Previous research has shown that during early stages of L3 acquisition,
both L1 and L2 phonology influence the phonology of the emerging L3. This is evident,
for example, in learners¹ production of some word-initial consonants, such as d, p,
and k. Languages differ in the timing between the articulation of the consonant and
the beginning of vibration of the vocal folds (voicing)associated with a following
vowel sound. This timing is known as Voice Onset Time (VOT). Studies suggest a stronger
influence from L2 than from L1 in L3 VOT production. However, learners in these studies
had some (if limited) knowledge of the L3, and the influence of this knowledge is
unclear. In addition, previous studies have addressed L3 production, but not L3 perception.
This study investigates the influence of L1 and L2 phonology on the very initial stages
of L3 acquisition (when the language is totally unfamiliar) by presenting English
and Spanish bilinguals with stimuli representing a range of VOT in their L1 and L2,
as well as from a third, unfamiliar language in a series of identification and discrimination
tasks designed to elicit evidence of VOT boundaries in each language.
The results of these tasks will show whether learners rely more on their L1 or their L2 for processing a third, unfamiliar language. Preliminary results are currently being analyzed. This research will give important insights for competing models of third language acquisition.
Chloe Brent (BA Linguistics)
Abstract: I am working with a fluent Southern Paiute speaker from the Paiute Indian
Tribe of Utah to document and revitalize this severely endangered language. Together,
we are making a storybook, replete with audio recordings, and we are developing an
orthography and language teaching curriculum.
Daniel Dixon (MA Applied Linguistics)
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to analyze the specific types of interaction
that take place between English language learners while playing the online videogame
entitled Guild Wars 2. The data from this study will be gathered from the recorded
screens of five volunteer ESL students at the University of Utah as they interact
in Guild Wars 2 for a period of 12 hours over four to five weeks. In-game interaction
is analyzed and placed into categories meant to capture the number and types of opportunities
for negotiation of meaning and types of learning strategies used, each category consisting
of several subcategories. By examining what specific type of interaction that takes
place during gameplay, a better understanding can be reached as to how and why MMORPGs
have shown beneficial results for language learners.