대한영어영문학회

Kim, Jong-mi. Prosodic transfer of speech rhythm: Substituting fundamental frequency for vowel duration in Korean learners English speech. Studies in English Language & Literature 43.4 (2017): 181-203. The prosodic transfer in the L2 English speech of L1 Korean learners is explored to see whether and how Korean-speaking English learners try to compensate for lost prosodic properties of the target stress-timed rhythm using the prosodic properties of their L1, a syllable-timed language. In this study, 42 learners were divided into low, medium, and high proficiency groups, based on native English-speaking listener evaluation of their read English speech data. In addition, 19 native speakers of English recorded their own English speech, as a control group. Thirteen native speakers evaluated the speech proficiency of the randomized recordings on a seven-point scale. Next, the duration and fundamental frequency of vowels were measured, to compute their pairwise variability between adjacent vowels within each rhythmic foot. The results showed that learners substituted fundamental frequency variability for duration variability. These results suggest prosodic transfer, prosodic acquisition, and prosodic development in adult language learning. (Kangwon National University)