Redeploying appendices in L2 phonology

Abstract

In this paper, we explore aspects of the production and perception of certain consonant clusters (in particular s + C clusters) in second language learners. We administered perception tasks (ABX and non-word transcription) and production tasks (reading, picture-based discussion, and elicited imitation) to native speakers of Persian and Arabic, and compare their results to those in previously published studies of other L1s. We will arrive at two broad conclusions. The first is that many subjects who demonstrate non-targetlike production of consonantal sequences by producing epenthetic vowels between the consonants are not hearing an illusory vowel in perception tasks. Thus, non-nativelike production is not always reflective of non-nativelike perception; non-nativelike production is not always caused by non-nativelike perception. Our second conclusion is that the locus of explanation for the accurate perception in subjects whose L1s lack s + C clusters is the presence or absence in the L1 of right-edge syllabic appendices. L1s which do not license appendices (Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese) will have difficulty perceiving L2 English s + C sequences, while L1s which do license appendices (Persian, Arabic) will not have difficulty perceiving L2 English s + C strings.