TY - JOUR
T1 - Acoustic characteristics and learner profiles of low-, mid-and high-level second language fluency
AU - Saito, Kazuya
AU - Ilkan, Meltem
AU - Magne, Viktoria
AU - Tran, Mai Ngoc
AU - Suzuki, Shungo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Cambridge University Press.
PY - 2018/5/1
Y1 - 2018/5/1
N2 - In the context of 90 adult Japanese learners of English with diverse second language experience and 10 native speakers, this study examined the linguistic characteristics and learner profiles of low-, mid-and high-level fluency performance. The participants' spontaneous speech samples were initially rated by 10 native listeners for global fluency on a 9-point scale (1 = dysfluent, 9 = very fluent), and then divided into four proficiency groups via cluster analyses: low (n = 29), mid (n = 30), high (n = 31), and native (n = 10). Next, the data set was analyzed for the number of pauses within/between clauses, articulation rate, and the frequency of repetitions/self-corrections. According to the results of a series of analyses of variance, the frequency of final-clause pauses differentiated low-and mid-level fluency performance; the number of mid-clause pauses differentiated mid-and high-level performance; and articulation rate differentiated high-level and nativelike performance. The analyses also found that the participants' second language fluency was significantly associated with their length of residence profiles (0-18 years), but not with their age of arrival profiles (19-40 years).
AB - In the context of 90 adult Japanese learners of English with diverse second language experience and 10 native speakers, this study examined the linguistic characteristics and learner profiles of low-, mid-and high-level fluency performance. The participants' spontaneous speech samples were initially rated by 10 native listeners for global fluency on a 9-point scale (1 = dysfluent, 9 = very fluent), and then divided into four proficiency groups via cluster analyses: low (n = 29), mid (n = 30), high (n = 31), and native (n = 10). Next, the data set was analyzed for the number of pauses within/between clauses, articulation rate, and the frequency of repetitions/self-corrections. According to the results of a series of analyses of variance, the frequency of final-clause pauses differentiated low-and mid-level fluency performance; the number of mid-clause pauses differentiated mid-and high-level performance; and articulation rate differentiated high-level and nativelike performance. The analyses also found that the participants' second language fluency was significantly associated with their length of residence profiles (0-18 years), but not with their age of arrival profiles (19-40 years).
KW - age effects
KW - experience effects
KW - fluency
KW - speech
KW - suprasegmentals
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042216646&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85042216646&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0142716417000571
DO - 10.1017/S0142716417000571
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85042216646
VL - 39
SP - 593
EP - 617
JO - Applied Psycholinguistics
JF - Applied Psycholinguistics
SN - 0142-7164
IS - 3
ER -