Overview
Investigates non-native speakers’ perception and production of tones in different contexts, as well as the connection between tones’ acoustic and psychological features
Employs synthesized tones to study second language acquisition of Mandarin tones systematically
Compares native speakers with both true learners and heritage learners
Outlines a new, organic, powerful path towards L2 language acquisition that deals realistically with both learners’ strengths and weaknesses
Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
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Table of contents (8 chapters)
Keywords
About this book
Tones are the most challenging aspect of learning Chinese as a second language, and L2 learners’ perceptual categories differ in important and fascinating ways from those of native speakers. This book explores the relationship between tone perception and production among native speakers and non-native learners as illustrated in the experiments the author conducted with native speakers, true learners and heritage learners, all of whom were tested on their ability to produce tones naturally and to perceive 81 synthesized tones in various contexts. The experiments show that each group processes tones differently with regard to both register (tonal level) and contour (tonal shape). The results also reveal how three types of cues – acoustic, psychological and contextual – influence non-native speakers’ tone perception and production.
Authors and Affiliations
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Perception and Production of Mandarin Tones by Native Speakers and L2 Learners
Authors: Bei Yang
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44645-4
Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, Social Sciences (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-662-44644-7Published: 10 March 2015
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-662-52598-2Published: 06 October 2016
eBook ISBN: 978-3-662-44645-4Published: 10 February 2015
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: X, 162
Number of Illustrations: 14 b/w illustrations, 25 illustrations in colour
Topics: Chinese, Asian Languages