Frequency-influenced Choice of L2 Sound Realization and Perception: Evidence from Two Chinese Dialects

The study of second language speech perception usually put L1-L2 phonological mapping as the rule of thumb in predicting learning outcome, and seldom included more fine-grained aspects such as frequency. This study examines how frequency of sounds in L1 may influence L2 segmental production and perception, with examples from English learners native to two Chinese dialects, Cantonese and Sichuanese. Although these two dialects (L1s) have very similar phonological inventory, they produce certain L2 sounds in drastic difference. Productions of English voiceless interdental fricative and central liquid in the onset position were obtained in free speech from the two dialects’ speakers in vast phonological environments. Then, perception tests, including AX and oddity tasks, were done for these two groups of speakers as well. Results showed that the two English sounds were respectively realized as different sounds in Cantonese and Sichuanese L1, which was reflected by both production and perception data. Findings suggest that L2 category formation is frequency-motivated instead of markedness-motivated, and is significantly influenced by the functional load of L1 sound input. Findings further imply that a quantitative and frequency-sensitive learning model is more suitable for L2 sound acquisition.