Factors and mechanisms in L2 word stress acquisition : evidence from Chinese-English interlanguage
Research on second language (L2) stress acquisition by speakers of stress languages indicates that error patterns can be analyzed systematically in terms of either the learnersâ first language (L1) or universal metrical principles. However, it remains controversial whether such systematicity is also found in L2 stress acquisition by speakers of non-stress languages. This thesis addresses this issue through re-examination of L2 English stress acquisition by speakers of Chinese, a tone language. If systematic patterns emerge in the data, we can address two further questions: a) to what extent are the patterns attributable to L1 transfer, and b) to what extent do the patterns reflect metrical universals? The question of whether Chinese learners can assign systematic stress to English words is examined in chapter 3. Participating in a perceptual preference experiment with English non-words, the Chinese subjects preferred initial stress for Ï.CVCC words when they were presented as nouns, but preferred final stress when they were presented as a verb, similar to the English subjects. In trisyllabic words, penultimate stress was preferred when the penult was closed by a consonant (CVC) whereas antepenultimate stress
Ou, Shu-chen
Factors and mechanisms in L2 word stress acquisition : evidence from Chinese-English interlanguage. Research on second language (L2) stress acquisition by speakers of stress languages indicates that error patterns can be analyzed systematically in terms of either the learnersâ first language (L1) or universal metrical principles. However, it remains controversial whether such systematicity is also found in L2 stress acquisition by speakers of non-stress languages. This thesis addresses this issue through re-examination of L2 English stress acquisition by speakers of Chinese, a tone language. If systematic patterns emerge in the data, we can address two further questions: a) to what extent are the patterns attributable to L1 transfer, and b) to what extent do the patterns reflect metrical universals? The question of whether Chinese learners can assign systematic stress to English words is examined in chapter 3. Participating in a perceptual preference experiment with English non-words, the Chinese subjects preferred initial stress for Ï.CVCC words when they were presented as nouns, but preferred final stress when they were presented as a verb, similar to the English subjects. In trisyllabic words, penultimate stress was preferred when the penult was closed by a consonant (CVC) whereas antepenultimate stress
factors mechanisms word_stress acquisition evidence chinese_english interlanguage second_language stress acquisition speaker stress language indicate error_pattern analyze systematically term either learner first_language universal metrical principle however remain controversial whether systematicity also_find stress acquisition speaker_non stress language address_issue re_examination english stress acquisition speaker chinese tone language systematic pattern_emerge data address question_extent pattern attributable transfer extent pattern reflect metrical universal question_whether chinese learner assign systematic stress english word examine perceptual preference english non words chinese subject prefer initial stress word present nouns prefer final stress present verb similar english subject word penultimate stress prefer close consonant whereas stress