The effects of Chinese learners’ English acoustic-prosodic patterns on listeners’ attitudinal judgments
Prosody has been emphasised in second language (L2) pedagogy as a strong contribution to successful intercultural communication. As English and Chinese are typologically different languages (Chinese is a syllable-timed language while English a stress-timed language), many differences in stress and...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2016
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10695/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10695/1/10970-40066-1-PB.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848812478016782336 |
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| author | Chen, Hsueh Chu Wang, Qian |
| author_facet | Chen, Hsueh Chu Wang, Qian |
| author_sort | Chen, Hsueh Chu |
| building | UKM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Prosody has been emphasised in second language (L2) pedagogy as a strong contribution to successful
intercultural communication. As English and Chinese are typologically different languages (Chinese is a
syllable-timed language while English a stress-timed language), many differences in stress and rhythmic
patterns trouble Chinese learners of English. This study analyses acoustic speech samples for 13 prosodic
features collected from 16 Chinese L2 learners and examines the relative importance of various prosody
features on language attitudes that native and non-native English listeners hold towards Chinese-accented
speech. The results revealed that Chinese speakers have a relatively slow speech rate and produce more
stressed words in their English speech compared with native English speakers. When listeners heard long and
inappropriate silent pauses in the speech, the integrity rating of the speakers decreased. The speech rate
contributed significantly to both attractiveness rating and competence rating. That is, listeners evaluated
speakers as more competent and attractive if the latter spoke faster. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T00:02:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | oai:generic.eprints.org:10695 |
| institution | Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T00:02:56Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | oai:generic.eprints.org:106952017-10-02T00:07:16Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10695/ The effects of Chinese learners’ English acoustic-prosodic patterns on listeners’ attitudinal judgments Chen, Hsueh Chu Wang, Qian Prosody has been emphasised in second language (L2) pedagogy as a strong contribution to successful intercultural communication. As English and Chinese are typologically different languages (Chinese is a syllable-timed language while English a stress-timed language), many differences in stress and rhythmic patterns trouble Chinese learners of English. This study analyses acoustic speech samples for 13 prosodic features collected from 16 Chinese L2 learners and examines the relative importance of various prosody features on language attitudes that native and non-native English listeners hold towards Chinese-accented speech. The results revealed that Chinese speakers have a relatively slow speech rate and produce more stressed words in their English speech compared with native English speakers. When listeners heard long and inappropriate silent pauses in the speech, the integrity rating of the speakers decreased. The speech rate contributed significantly to both attractiveness rating and competence rating. That is, listeners evaluated speakers as more competent and attractive if the latter spoke faster. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2016 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10695/1/10970-40066-1-PB.pdf Chen, Hsueh Chu and Wang, Qian (2016) The effects of Chinese learners’ English acoustic-prosodic patterns on listeners’ attitudinal judgments. 3L; Language,Linguistics and Literature,The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies., 22 (2). pp. 91-108. ISSN 0128-5157 http://ejournal.ukm.my/3l/issue/view/807 |
| spellingShingle | Chen, Hsueh Chu Wang, Qian The effects of Chinese learners’ English acoustic-prosodic patterns on listeners’ attitudinal judgments |
| title | The effects of Chinese learners’ English acoustic-prosodic patterns on listeners’ attitudinal judgments |
| title_full | The effects of Chinese learners’ English acoustic-prosodic patterns on listeners’ attitudinal judgments |
| title_fullStr | The effects of Chinese learners’ English acoustic-prosodic patterns on listeners’ attitudinal judgments |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of Chinese learners’ English acoustic-prosodic patterns on listeners’ attitudinal judgments |
| title_short | The effects of Chinese learners’ English acoustic-prosodic patterns on listeners’ attitudinal judgments |
| title_sort | effects of chinese learners’ english acoustic-prosodic patterns on listeners’ attitudinal judgments |
| url | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10695/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10695/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10695/1/10970-40066-1-PB.pdf |