The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Production and perception of a novel, second-language phonetic contrast
Abstract
Four experiments, all of which focused on vowel duration, assessed Chinese subjects’ production and perception of the contrast between /t/ and /d/ in the final position of English words. Vowel duration was measured in minimal pairs in the first experiment. The stimuli in natural-edited beat–bead and bat–bad continua in which vowel duration varied in 20-ms steps were then presented to native English and Chinese subjects in a forced-choice test, in an experiment using the method of adjustment, and in an imitation task. The non-natives who learned English in childhood closely resembled native speakers in all four experiments. Three groups of non-natives who had learned English as a second language in adulthood, on the other hand, differed from the native speakers. The late learners produced significantly longer vowels in words ending in /d/ than /t/. However, the late learners’ vowel duration differences were much smaller than the native speakers’, and were correlated significantly with degree of foreign accent in English. The late learners differed from the native speakers in several ways in the two perception experiments, and also in the imitation task. The pattern of significant and nonsignificant between-group differences, but not data for individual subjects, was consistent with the hypothesis that L2 (second language) production accuracy is limited by the adequacy of perceptual representations for sounds in the L2.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Speakers who learn a second language after puberty produce it with an “accent” typical of their primary language, even after long-term instruction (90).”
From A new view of language acquisition (2000) · cites this paper as [90]
Citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–200 of 248
Acquisition of non-sibilant anterior English fricatives by adult second language learners
Wiener, S., Gao, Z., Li, X., et al. (2022) · Journal of Second Language Pronunciation · doi:10.1075/jslp.20067.wie · Cited by 4
“…Mandarin-L2 English talkers can produce non-native durational properties of a novel voiced fricative corroborates previous experimental studies on other L2 phonetic temporal contrasts (e.g., Arslan & Hansen, 1997; Flege, 1993), though we know of no such study specifically targeting L2 fricatives.”
Metacognition in Second Language Speech Perception and Production
Kartushina, N., Soto, D., & Martin, C. D. (2022) · Language Learning · doi:10.1111/lang.12549 · Cited by 5
Cognitive Neuroscience of Foreign Language Education: Myths and Realities
Nouri, A. (2015) · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cited by 4
Jong, K. A. D., & Hao, Y.-C. (2017) · Journal of Phonetics · doi:10.1016/j.wocn.2017.09.002 · Cited by 4
The Effect of Vowel Duration on the Perception of Postvocalic Voiced/Voiceless Consonants
Wang, H. S., & Wu, J.-C. (2001) · Cited by 4
Factors in on-line loanword adaptation
Haunz, C. (2007) · ERA · Cited by 4
Phonetics and Phonology of Regressive Voicing Assimilation in Russian Native and Non-native Speech
Samokhina, N. (2010) · UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) · Cited by 4
Ji, A., Berry, J., & Johnson, M. T. (2013) · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · doi:10.1121/1.4806544 · Cited by 4
“Across speakers, the amount of similarity to native speakers in the magnitude of the vowel duration contrast effects correlates with perceived foreign accent (J. E. Flege, 1993).”
BackgroundRelating Production and Perception of L2 Tone
Kirby, J., & Giang, Đ. L. (2021) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108886901.010 · Cited by 3
“…be correlated, at least for novice and advanced speakers, and moderate correlations have been found in studies of both vowels and consonants in a variety of languages (Bettoni-Techio et al. 2007; Elvin et al. 2016; Flege 1993; Flege et al. 1999; Levy & Law 2010; Llisterri 1995; Morrison 2003).”
BackgroundAuditory Priming Effects on the Pronunciation of Second Language Speech Sounds
Leong, L. A., Heift, T., & Wang, Y. (2021) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108886901.019 · Cited by 2
Introducing Chinese Linguistics
Zhang, H., & Zhang, L. (2022) · Studies in Chinese language and discourse · doi:10.1075/scld.16 · Cited by 4
Cross-language influences in the acquisition of L2 and L3 phonology
Amengual, M. (2023) · Bilingual processing and acquisition · doi:10.1075/bpa.16.04ame · Cited by 3
Cognitive Linguistic Approaches
Taylor, J. R. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198755104.013.32 · Cited by 3
임수아, & Han, J.-I. (2014) · Studies in Phonetics Phonology and Morphology · doi:10.17959/sppm.2014.20.3.403 · Cited by 3
Nonnative Speech Recognition Based on State-Level Bilingual Model Modification
Zhang, Q., Ta, L., Pan, J., et al. (2008) · doi:10.1109/iccit.2008.404 · Cited by 3
“In these cases, nonnative speakers tend to substitute sounds of their mother language for those foreign sounds they can not produce [10].”
BackgroundThe effects of perceptual training on speech production - focusing on Korean vowels
Yun, E. K. (2013) · Studies in Foreign Language Education · doi:10.16933/sfle.2013.27.2.1 · Cited by 3
de Jong, K. J., & Hao, Y.-C. (2015) · ICPhS · Cited by 3
Variedades lingüísticas en contacto na Península Ibérica
García, F. D., Míguez, V., & Sousa Fernández, X. C. (2020) · Consello da Cultura Galega eBooks · doi:10.17075/vlcpi.2020 · Cited by 3
A Review of the ‘Speech Learning Model’ in the Perspectives of Learners of English in Pakistan
Syed, N. A., & Saleem, A. (2019) · JISR management and social sciences & economics · doi:10.31384/jisrmsse/2019.17.2.12 · Cited by 3
“For example, it is 6-12 months in Best & Tyler (2007), Flege and Liu (2001) and Flege and Fletcher (1992), 1.3 years in Flege (1987), 5.1 years in Flege (1993) and 3.1 years in Guion et al. (2000).”
BackgroundInfluentialThe Perception and Production of /p/ in Saudi Gulf Arabic English: A Variationist Perspective
Buali, I. (2010) · Spectrum Research Repository (Concordia University) · Cited by 3
Studies in Chinese Language and Discourse
(2013) · Studies in Chinese language and discourse · doi:10.1075/scld · Cited by 3
How are second language phoneme contrasts learned
Hayes‐Harb, R. (2003) · UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) · Cited by 3
The direction of attention in second language phonological contrast learning
Conover, L. (2023) · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · doi:10.1121/10.0019714 · Cited by 3
Automatic Accent Identification Using Less Data: a Shift from Global to Segmental Accent
Grigaliūnaitė, J., & Melnik-Leroy, G. A. (2024) · Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering · doi:10.1007/s13369-024-09344-4 · Cited by 2
“The general assumption is that the earlier the AOL, the better the outcomes of learning are [50].”
Perception of synthetic vowels by monolingual and bilingual Malayalam speakers
Radhakrishnan, S. (2009) · OhioLink ETD Center (Ohio Library and Information Network) · Cited by 2
Japanese-accented English vowels: a perception study
Tsukada, K. (1998) · Asia Pacific Journal of Speech Language and Hearing · doi:10.1179/136132898805577287 · Cited by 2
The perception of foreign accent in prosody-transplanted speech
Lee, J.-K. (2015) · Studies in Phonetics Phonology and Morphology · doi:10.17959/sppm.2015.21.2.323 · Cited by 2
Pilus, Z. (2016) · Malaysian Journal of ELT Research · Cited by 2
Chu, J., Yang, C., & Guofa, L. I. U. (2019) · Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala · doi:10.33788/rcis.64.25 · Cited by 2
“As for the interplay between L2 production and L2 perception, most studies confi rm the proposition that perception precedes production and that a perceptual diffi culty is likely to underlie the widely observed diffi culty adults have in producing L2 sounds (Flege, 1993; Leather, 1999; Llisterri, 1995; Neufeld, 1988).”
BackgroundPRONUNCIATION ERRORS AMONG MALAYSIAN UNDERGRADUATES IN ENGLISH FOR ORAL COMMUNICATION COURSE
Pudin, C. S. J., Mohamed, N. Z. N., Din, W. A., et al. (2021) · International Journal of Education Psychology and Counseling · doi:10.35631/ijepc.643004 · Cited by 2
Llompart, M. (2023) · Studies in Second Language Acquisition · doi:10.1017/s0272263123000414 · Cited by 2
“Findings are mostly mixed, with several studies showing correlations, often of a moderate size and particularly for proficient L2 users (Flege, 1993; Flege et al., 1997; Melnik-Leroy et al., 2022), but some failing to do so (e.g., Peperkamp & Bouchon, 2011).”
BackgroundRichtsmeier, P. T. (2008) · UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) · Cited by 2
de Souza, H. K. (2011) · Cited by 2
The development of voice onset time in French immersion children
Netelenbos, N. (2013) · Open ULeth Scholarship (OPUS) (University of Lethbridge) · Cited by 2
Oh, G. E. (2011) · Scholars' Bank (University of Oregon) · Cited by 2
Phonetic category formation is perceptually driven during the early stages of adult L2 developmentPreprint
Casillas, J. V. (2018) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/73b5p · Cited by 2
Antoniou, M. (2018) · doi:10.1002/9781118835722.ch3 · Cited by 3
Commissaire, É. (2012) · HAL · doi:10.70675/5d18ce14zd3f3z42b2zb9a3z79a49b6b64fa · Cited by 2
Navarro, F. R. (2008) · doi:10.14201/gredos.22438 · Cited by 2
What Makes Spanish-Accented English Sound Spanish-Accented? Acoustic Measures and Listener Cues
Shah, A. P. (2019) · International Journal of Linguistics · doi:10.5296/ijl.v11i6.15815 · Cited by 1
“Flege (1993) showed that degree of perceived foreign accent, as judged by native listeners, correlated significantly with vowel duration differences preceding final voiced versus voiceless obstruents for Chinese-accented English speakers.”
BackgroundResultDo position and lexical knowledge matter in children’s second language speech perception?
Hwang, H. (2023) · Lingua · doi:10.1016/j.lingua.2023.103527 · Cited by 1
The Speech Perception of Bilingual Adults
Antoniou, M. (2024) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009105767.018 · Cited by 1
Sevich, V. A., Williams, D. J., Moberly, A. C., & Tamati, T. N. (2025) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci15101066 · Cited by 1
Improving nonnative speech perception and production through an AI-powered application
Georgiou, G. P. (2026) · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · doi:10.1057/s41599-026-07186-z · Cited by 1
“…teaching (Low 2021), despite well-documented segmental dif fi culties in both perception and production among adult nonnative speakers – often attributed to native language interference (Flege 1993; Georgiou and Giannakou 2024; Georgiou and Kaskampa 2024; Navarra et al. 2005; Solon et al. 2017).”
Fix your vowels: Computer-assisted training by Dutch learners of Spanish
Lie-Lahuerta, C. (2011) · Tijdschrift voor Skandinavistiek · Cited by 1
Eesti vokaalikategooriate piirid vene ja eesti emakeelega kõnelejate tajuruumis
Meister, L. (2009) · Eesti Rakenduslingvistika Ühingu aastaraamat Estonian Papers in Applied Linguistics · doi:10.5128/erya5.09 · Cited by 1
Nonnative speech recognition based on bilingual model modification
Zhang, Q., Pan, J., Chan, S. D., et al. (2009) · Proceedings of ... IEEE International Conference on Fuzzy Systems · doi:10.1109/fuzzy.2009.5277103 · Cited by 1
“In these cases, nonnative speakers tend to substitute sounds of their mother language for those foreign sounds they can not produce [11].”
BackgroundChapter 8. Intelligibility, comprehensibility, and foreign accent in L2 Mandarin Chinese
(2016) · Bilingual processing and acquisition · doi:10.1075/bpa.1.c8 · Cited by 1
Dissociable Levels of Speech Processing in Second Language Perception.
Grenon, I. (2011) · ICPhS · Cited by 1
What Accounts for Foreign Accent Reduction in Singing?
Chan, K. Y., Hall, M. D., & Herr, R. D. (2023) · Auditory Perception & Cognition · doi:10.1080/25742442.2023.2228659 · Cited by 1
Bustos, J., Vignolo, F., & Vyhmeister, G. (2023) · Teaching English as a Foreign Language Journal · doi:10.12928/tefl.v2i2.498 · Cited by 1
Figueiredo, S., & da Silva, C. F. (2013) · Revista Portuguesa de Educação · doi:10.21814/rpe.3018 · Cited by 1
Acoustic Correlates of English Stress in Korean L2 Learners’ Perception
강희조, & 김현주 (2016) · Korean Journal of English Language and Linguistics · doi:10.15738/kjell.16.2.201606.169 · Cited by 1
Development of a recording protocol for the assessment of speech disorders
Manjula, G., & Kumar, M. S. (2016) · International Conference on Electrical, Electronics, Communication, Computer and Optimization Techniques (ICEECCOT) · doi:10.1109/iceeccot.2016.7955213 · Cited by 1
조혜선 (2017) · Studies in Phonetics Phonology and Morphology · doi:10.17959/sppm.2017.23.2.293 · Cited by 1
Diéguez-Vide, F., Planas, A. M. F., Gich, J., Puig, J., Berthier, M. L., & Elvira‐García, W. (2019) · Aphasiology · doi:10.1080/02687038.2019.1661956 · Cited by 1
Comparing Articulatory Consistency Between Native and Second Language Speakers
Bozorg, N., Johnson, M. T., & Berry, J. (2019) · IEEE International Symposium on Signal Processing and Information Technology (ISSPIT) · doi:10.1109/isspit47144.2019.9001746 · Cited by 1
“Specifically, language learners struggle with both perceiving and producing vowels that do not exist in L1 [3] .”
Background엄혜영 (2020) · Korean Journal of English Language and Linguistics · doi:10.15738/kjell.20..202003.20 · Cited by 1
Phonotactic Constraints on Consonant Clusters in Second Language Acquisition
Trapman, M. (2007) · Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) · Cited by 1
Pomacóndor, C., & María, S. (2007) · Cited by 1
Bharadwaj, S. V., Katz, W. F., & Tobey, E. A. (2007) · Hearing Balance and Communication · doi:10.1080/16513860701705371 · Cited by 1
Perception and analysis of Spanish accents in English speech
Chism, C., & Lass, N. (2002) · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · doi:10.1121/1.4777997 · Cited by 1
Phonotactic knowledge in L2 speech perception and production by Korean learners of English
성은경 (2009) · Studies in Phonetics Phonology and Morphology · doi:10.17959/sppm.2009.15.2.231 · Cited by 1
The Phonology of Contact: Creole sound change in context
Ng, E.-C. (n.d.) · ProQuest Demo Repository · Cited by 1
Migrant Pronunciation: What do Employers find Acceptable?
Pilott, M. (2016) · Figshare · doi:10.26686/wgtn.17019935.v1
Perception and analysis of Spanish accents in English speech
Kropf, C. A. (2000) · doi:10.33915/etd.832 · Cited by 1
“In the same study, Flege (1993) measured the lengths of vowels in the /b_d/ and 9 /b_t/ frames produced by various nonnative English speakers.”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialShin, D.-J. (2014) · UCL Discovery (University College London) · Cited by 1
Neurophysiological investigation of experience-based processing of phoneme substitutions in L2
Vellinga, M. V. R., Hanulíková, A., Zwitserlood, P., & Weber, A. (2009)
Implicit foreign language learning after minimal exposure across the lifespan
Ristin-Kaufmann, N. (2014) · reroDoc Digital Library
Perception and Production of Illicit Lateral Sequences by Korean Learners of English
Shin, S.-H. (2011) · Korean Journal of Linguistics · doi:10.18855/lisoko.2011.36.2.005
Frese, R. A. (2007) · Revista Língua&Literatura
Baptista, Barbara O. & Watkins, Michael. English wih a latin beat
Cardoso, W. (2008) · Ilha do Desterro A Journal of English Language Literatures in English and Cultural Studies · doi:10.5007/2175-8026.2008n55p199
English with a Latin beat: Studies in Portuguese/Spanish—English interphonology (review)
Cardoso, W. (2008) · The Canadian Journal of Linguistics / La revue canadienne de linguistique · doi:10.1353/cjl.0.0008
The effect of correcting temporal patterns on the intelligibility of non-native Dutch speech
van Delft, L. E. (2009) · Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University)
Phonology and Second Language Acquisition ‐ Edited by Jette G. Hansen Edwards and Mary L. Zampini
Hyde‐Simon, C. (2008) · International Journal of Applied Linguistics · doi:10.1111/j.1473-4192.2008.00205.x
Moya‐Galé, G. (2010) · Dipòsit Digital de la Universitat de Barcelona (Universitat de Barcelona)
Immediate transfer of learning from speech perception to speech production
Kittredge, A. K. (2012) · Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Nonnative Speech Recognition Based on Bilingual Model Modification at State Level
Zhang, Q., Pan, J., Chan, S. D., et al. (2009) · Advances in intelligent and soft computing · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-01216-7_32
“In these cases, nonnative speakers tend to substitute sounds of their mother language for those foreign sounds they can not produce [11].”
Background최한숙 (2012) · Korean Journal of English Language and Linguistics · doi:10.15738/kjell.12.2.201206.358
The effect of visual cues in the perception of nonnative contrasts
Kluge, D. C. (2011) · Signótica · doi:10.5216/sig.v22i2.13608
“1 inTroDucTion Many studies related to the perception of second language (L2) sounds has discussed the influence of the native language (L1) on accurate percetion of the L2 (flege, 1993, 1995; woDe, 1995; besT, 1995; iverson & Kuhl, 1995).”
BackgroundVariability in L2 English pronunciation examined through the prism of phonetic imitation
Zając, M. (2016) · Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego eBooks · doi:10.18778/8088-065-8.08
“Perceptual Assimilation Model (Best 1995) and Speech Learning Model (Flege 1993) propose that the perception of an L2 phone involves comparing the sound with all sounds in the L1 system of the speaker.”
BackgroundChapter 7. Temporal cues of discourse boundaries in L1/L2 Mandarin speech
(2016) · Bilingual processing and acquisition · doi:10.1075/bpa.1.c7
Chapter 5. Perception of Mandarin tones and intonation by American L2 learners
(2016) · Bilingual processing and acquisition · doi:10.1075/bpa.1.c5
Chapter 9. From research to practice
(2016) · Bilingual processing and acquisition · doi:10.1075/bpa.1.c9
Chapter 6. Acquisition of Mandarin Tone 3 sandhi
(2016) · Bilingual processing and acquisition · doi:10.1075/bpa.1.c6
Ali, Z. A., & Ghani, A. A. (2016) · IRA International Journal of Education and Multidisciplinary Studies · doi:10.21013/jems.v5.n1.p4
Chapter 2. Prosody of Mandarin Chinese and English
(2016) · Bilingual processing and acquisition · doi:10.1075/bpa.1.c2
Chapter 4. Acquisition of utterance-level prosody in L2 Mandarin Chinese
(2016) · Bilingual processing and acquisition · doi:10.1075/bpa.1.c4
UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA CATARINA PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM LETRAS/INGLÊS E LITERATURA CORRESPONDENTE
Identification, B. E. L. '. (2009)
Shin, J. (2015) · English Language and Linguistics · doi:10.17960/ell.2015.21.3.010
Tsukada, K., Birdsong, D. P., Bialystok, E., Mack, M., Sung, H., & Flege, J. E. (2003)
Self-citationCardoso, W. (2008) · The Canadian Journal of Linguistics / La revue canadienne de linguistique · doi:10.1017/s0008413100000955
A computational model of sound perception in a second language
Gong, J. (2013) · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja)
Bonneau, A. (2018) · Speech prosody · doi:10.21437/speechprosody.2018-189
“The pronunciation of a non-native segmental category is influenced by the native phonological system of learners [1].”
BackgroundSpectral analysis of English voiced palato-alveolar fricative /Ʒ/ produced by Chinese WU Speakers
Chen, W., Liang, J., & Yu, M. (2017) · doi:10.1109/icsda.2017.8384457
Teaching And Understanding Phonemic Awareness And English Learners
Wold, J. L. (2017) · Digital Commons - Hamline (Hamline University)
Research Environments For Pedagogical Tools: Teaching and Learning with Authentic Oral English
Przewozny-Desriaux, A. (2018) · Recherche et pratiques pédagogiques en langues de spécialité · doi:10.4000/apliut.6243
Les locutions verbales et les constructions à verbe support en français L2
Bulut, A., & Jebali, A. (2018) · Cognition représentation langages · doi:10.4000/corela.6981
Interaction, Corrective Feedback, and the Development of Lexical Stress
Parlak, Ö. (2019) · Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) · doi:10.17635/lancaster/thesis/520
Metadata
- Authors
- Flege, J. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- Corresponding author
- Flege, James Emil
- ORCID
- Flege, James Emil
- Venue
- The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
- Publisher
- Acoustical Society of America (ASA)
- Published
- 1993-03-01
- Volume
- 93
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 1589-1608
- ISSN
- 0001-4966 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-8524
- OpenAlex
- W2051401856
- Cited by
- 249
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 2.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (DC00257, R01DC000257)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Phonetics and Phonology Research
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
- Social Sciences › Linguistics and Language › Linguistic Variation and Morphology
- Keywords
- vowel duration, English as a second language, Chinese learners of English, late learners, foreign accent, speech perception, speech production, phonetic imitation, perceptual representation, minimal pairs
- MeSH terms
- Acoustic Stimulation, Adult, Age Factors, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Female, Humans, Language, Male, Phonetics, Speech Perception, Speech Production Measurement
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review