The Relationship Between the Perception and Production of Non-Native Tones

Abstract

To further investigate the relationship between non-native tone perception and production, the present study trained Mandarin speakers to learn Cantonese lexical tones with a speech shadowing paradigm. After two weeks' training, both Mandarin speakers' Cantonese tone perception and their production had improved significantly. The overall performances in Cantonese tone perception and production are moderately correlated, but the degree of performance change after training among the two modalities shows no correlation, suggesting that non-native tone perception and production might be partially correlated, but that the improvement of the two modalities is not synchronous. A comparison between the present study and previous studies on non-native tone learning indicates that experience in lexical tone processing might be important in forming the correlation between tone perception and production. Mandarin speakers showed greater improvement in Cantonese tone perception than in production after training, indicating that second language (L2) perception might precede production. Besides, both the first language (L1) and L2 tonal systems showed an influence on Mandarin speakers' learning of Cantonese tones.

On the relationship between perception and production of L2 sounds: Evidence from Anglophones’ processing of the French /u/–/y/ contrast

“…Our main result on the relationship between perception and production is in agreement with a number of previous studies (Bettoni-Techio et al, 2007; Flege, 1993; Flege et al, 1997, 1999; Flege and Schmidt, 1995; Hattori and Iverson, 2009, 2010; Jia et al, 2006; Kluge et al, 2007; Schmidt and Flege, 1995; Zhang and Peng, 2017). However, it contrasts with several others (Kartushina and Frauenfelder, 2014; Levy and Law, 2010; Peperkamp and Bouchon, 2011).…”

“…Flege and colleagues thus conducted a series of studies on the perception and production of vowels and consonants in a variety of languages and with participants with various levels of L2 proficiency and a number of different L1s (Flege, 1993(Flege, , 1999Flege et al 1997;Flege and Eefting, 1988;Flege and Schmidt, 1995;Schmidt and Flege, 1995). In all of these studies, as well as more recent ones by other researchers (Baker and Trofimovich, 2006;Bettoni-Techio et al, 2007;Iverson, 2009, 2010;Jia et al, 2006;Kluge et al, 2007;Zhang and Peng, 2017), a positive correlation between the two modalities was found, most often of modest size. Flege (1999) argued that while the correlation between perception and production might not be strong, it might also be underestimated in these studies due to methodological factors, such as the specific perception and production measures used.…”

Metacognition in second language speech perception and production

“…There was no relationship between individual accuracy in speech sound perception and production, in novice learners, suggesting the absence of a link between the two domains, at least when learning "novel" perceptually-similar L2 sounds distinct from native categories. This result is consistent with previous research, showing that, while experienced L2 speakers show a moderate-to-strong relationship between L2 perception and production (Baker & Tro movich, 2006;Bettoni-Techio et al, 2007;Flege, 1993Flege, , 1999Flege et al, 1997Flege et al, , 1999Flege & Eefting, 1987a;Flege & Schmidt, 1995;Hattori & Iverson, 2010;Jia et al, 2006;Kluge et al, 2007;Zhang & Peng, 2017), speakers with less experience or novice learners show only weak or no relationship at all (Jia et al, 2006;Kartushina et al, 2015;Kartushina & Frauenfelder, 2014;Li et al, 2019). This may indicate that the two domains align with experience (Flege and Schmidt, 1995).…”

Metacognition in Second Language Speech Perception and Production

“…We found no relationship between individual accuracy in speech perception (vowel identification) and production (nonword reading) in novice learners, suggesting the absence of a link between the two domains, at least when individuals are learning novel perceptually similar L2 sounds distinct from native categories. This result is consistent with previous research showing that, while experienced L2 speakers show a moderate-to-strong relationship between L2 perception and production (Baker & Trofimovich, 2006;Bettoni-Techio et al, 2007;Flege, 1993Flege, , 1999Flege et al, 1997Flege et al, , 1999Flege & Eefting, 1987a;Flege & Schmidt, 1995;Hattori & Iverson, 2010;Jia et al, 2006;Kluge et al, 2007;Zhang & Peng, 2017), speakers with less experience or novice learners show only weak or no relationship at all (Jia et al, 2006;Kartushina et al, 2015;Kartushina & Frauenfelder, 2014;Li et al, 2019). This may indicate that the two domains align with experience (Flege & Schmidt, 1995), as the perception-production link varies across time (Nagle & Baese-Berk, 2021) and has been shown to be stronger in experienced L2 speakers (Rallo Fabra & Romero, 2012).…”