¡Ya pué[h]! Perception of coda-/s/ weakening among L2 and heritage speakers in coastal Ecuador

This investigation lies at the intersection of second language acquisition (SLA), sociophonetic variation, and speech perception. Specifically, it investigates the perception of coda /s/-aspiration (producing disco as [dih.ko]), a dialectal feature characteristic of Guayaquileño (coastal Ecuadorian...

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Main Author: Chelsea Escalante
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: E-JournALL 2018-08-01
Series:EuroAmerican Journal of Applied Linguistics and Languages
Subjects:
Online Access:https://e-journall.org/index.php/ejall/article/view/vol5_issue1_2018-2376905x-8-128/2329
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author Chelsea Escalante
author_facet Chelsea Escalante
author_sort Chelsea Escalante
collection DOAJ
description This investigation lies at the intersection of second language acquisition (SLA), sociophonetic variation, and speech perception. Specifically, it investigates the perception of coda /s/-aspiration (producing disco as [dih.ko]), a dialectal feature characteristic of Guayaquileño (coastal Ecuadorian) Spanish, among 14 young-adult English speakers who travel to Ecuador. The study investigates the participants’ ability to perceive an aspirated variant as a legitimate /s/ over time as they are further exposed to the local variety. It also explores the linguistic and extralinguistic factors that play a role in the perception of the variable such as phonological context of /s/, proficiency level, and individual differences in experience with /s/-weakening dialects. Results suggest that most learners are able to acquire new mappings within their interlanguage phonological system. However, results vary according to proficiency, phonological context of /s/, and at the individual level. The results also suggest that gains in sociolinguistic competence can be seen in terms of perception (as opposed to only in learner production), which underscores the necessity to include perceptual studies in future research in variationist SLA.
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spelling doaj.art-095e62e0032c451fada858bcf0f7f96a2023-09-14T08:47:23ZengE-JournALLEuroAmerican Journal of Applied Linguistics and Languages2376-905X2018-08-0151126https://doi.org/10.21283/2376905X.8.128¡Ya pué[h]! Perception of coda-/s/ weakening among L2 and heritage speakers in coastal EcuadorChelsea Escalante 0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5364-0069University of WyomingThis investigation lies at the intersection of second language acquisition (SLA), sociophonetic variation, and speech perception. Specifically, it investigates the perception of coda /s/-aspiration (producing disco as [dih.ko]), a dialectal feature characteristic of Guayaquileño (coastal Ecuadorian) Spanish, among 14 young-adult English speakers who travel to Ecuador. The study investigates the participants’ ability to perceive an aspirated variant as a legitimate /s/ over time as they are further exposed to the local variety. It also explores the linguistic and extralinguistic factors that play a role in the perception of the variable such as phonological context of /s/, proficiency level, and individual differences in experience with /s/-weakening dialects. Results suggest that most learners are able to acquire new mappings within their interlanguage phonological system. However, results vary according to proficiency, phonological context of /s/, and at the individual level. The results also suggest that gains in sociolinguistic competence can be seen in terms of perception (as opposed to only in learner production), which underscores the necessity to include perceptual studies in future research in variationist SLA.https://e-journall.org/index.php/ejall/article/view/vol5_issue1_2018-2376905x-8-128/2329second language acquisitionperceptiondialectal variation
spellingShingle Chelsea Escalante
¡Ya pué[h]! Perception of coda-/s/ weakening among L2 and heritage speakers in coastal Ecuador
EuroAmerican Journal of Applied Linguistics and Languages
second language acquisition
perception
dialectal variation
title ¡Ya pué[h]! Perception of coda-/s/ weakening among L2 and heritage speakers in coastal Ecuador
title_full ¡Ya pué[h]! Perception of coda-/s/ weakening among L2 and heritage speakers in coastal Ecuador
title_fullStr ¡Ya pué[h]! Perception of coda-/s/ weakening among L2 and heritage speakers in coastal Ecuador
title_full_unstemmed ¡Ya pué[h]! Perception of coda-/s/ weakening among L2 and heritage speakers in coastal Ecuador
title_short ¡Ya pué[h]! Perception of coda-/s/ weakening among L2 and heritage speakers in coastal Ecuador
title_sort ya pue h perception of coda s weakening among l2 and heritage speakers in coastal ecuador
topic second language acquisition
perception
dialectal variation
url https://e-journall.org/index.php/ejall/article/view/vol5_issue1_2018-2376905x-8-128/2329
work_keys_str_mv AT chelseaescalante yapuehperceptionofcodasweakeningamongl2andheritagespeakersincoastalecuador