Sung-joo Lim <sungjol@andrew.cmu.edu>
Learning Non-Native Speech Categories with a Video Game
 
Abstract:
Among various components of language, learning non-native (L2) sounds and contrasts
(including speech perception and production) is known to be hard for adults 
(Flege, 1999; Lively, 1996). Various laboratory studies attempted to promote
adult listeners to learn second language speech sounds, however, not much
effect of training has been found, even with extensive training. In my study,
I apply non-speech category training technique to Native Japanese adults 
learning non-native English /r/ and /l/ using an unusual approach, a video 
game. I investigate learning of the  fine-grain acoustic details of the 
English contrast within this paradigm.  The results show that a video game 
paradigm may be an effective way to train non-native speech sounds and 
indicate that some of the learning mechanisms driving non-speech auditory
category learning may also play a role in speech categorization.