ERIC Number: EJ958060
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Apr
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0749-596X
EISSN: N/A
The Perception and Representation of Segmental and Prosodic Mandarin Contrasts in Native Speakers of Cantonese
Zhang, Xujin; Samuel, Arthur G.; Liu, Siyun
Journal of Memory and Language, v66 n3 p438-457 Apr 2012
Previous research has found that a speaker's native phonological system has a great influence on perception of another language. In three experiments, we tested the perception and representation of Mandarin phonological contrasts by Guangzhou Cantonese speakers, and compared their performance to that of native Mandarin speakers. Despite their rich experience using Mandarin Chinese, the Cantonese speakers had problems distinguishing specific Mandarin segmental and tonal contrasts that do not exist in Guangzhou Cantonese. However, we found evidence that the subtle differences between two members of a contrast were nonetheless represented in the lexicon. We also found different processing patterns for non-native segmental vs. non-native tonal contrasts. The results provide substantial new information about the representation and processing of segmental and prosodic information by individuals listening to a closely-related, very well-learned, but still non-native language. (Contains 9 figures and 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Suprasegmentals, Phonology, Native Speakers, Language Processing, Sino Tibetan Languages, Mandarin Chinese, Foreign Countries
Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2131
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China (Guangzhou)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A