Frequency-influenced choice of L2 sound realization and perception: evidence from two Chinese dialects

The study of second language speechperception usually put L1-L2 phonologicalmapping as the rule of thumb in predictinglearning outcome, and seldom included morefine-grained aspects such as frequency. Thisstudy examines how frequency of sounds in L1may influence L2 segmental production andperception, with examples from Englishlearners native to two Chinese dialects,Cantonese and Sichuanese. Although these twodialects (L1s) have very similar phonologicalinventory, they produce certain L2 sounds indrastic difference. Productions of Englishvoiceless interdental fricative and central liquidin the onset position were obtained in freespeech from the two dialects’ speakers in vastphonological environments. Then, perceptiontests, including AX and oddity tasks, were donefor these two groups of speakers as well.Results showed that the two English soundswere respectively realized as different sounds inCantonese and Sichuanese L1, which wasreflected by both production and perceptiondata. Findings suggest that L2 categoryformation is frequency-motivated instead ofmarkedness-motivated, and is significantlyinfluenced by the functional load of L1 soundinput. Findings further imply that a quantitativeand frequency-sensitive learning model is moresuitable for L2 sound acquisition.