Pre-service English teachers’ cue-weighting in L2 stop perception*

Abstract

This study investigates how Korean second language (L2) learners of English perceive the voicing contrast, primarily signaled by voice onset time (VOT) and fundamental frequency (F0), and how attentional load influences their use of these acoustic cues. Testing pre-service English teachers, we observed a general preference for VOT over F0 in identifying the voicing contrast, consistent with the pattern previously reported in native English speakers. At the group level, the interaction between distraction and each acoustic cue revealed that increased cognitive load reduced reliance on both VOT and F0. However, an analysis of individual correlation coefficient showed that VOT and F0 were not equally affected by the distraction. While both cues were negatively influenced, individuals whose reliance on VOT decreased more under cognitive load tended to maintain their reliance on F0. This suggests a compensatory relationship between the two acoustic cues. We discussed that Korean learners’ cue-weighting strategies may be influenced by their native language (L1) and classroom learning environments, which limit exposure to naturalistic listening conditions and hinder perceptual flexibility. This study underscores the role of L1 transfer in shaping L2 speech perception and highlights the need for training that incorporates real-world listening challenges.