Perception and processing of Spanish questions and statements by L1 English/ L2 Spanish speakers
Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-0931-4300
Document Type
Paper Presentation
Presenter Language
English
Research Area
Phonetics & Phonology
Location
MBSC Council Room 306
Start Date
17-10-2024 12:00 PM
End Date
17-10-2024 12:30 PM
Abstract
Spanish declarative questions and statements often contrast only in their prosody. Variations in intonation contours are observed across Spanish-speaking countries. In Castilian Spanish (CS), questions typically end with a rise (H%), while in Buenos Aires Spanish (BAS), questions commonly end with a circumflex contour (HL%). Declaratives in both varieties typically end with a fall (L%). Dominican Spanish (DRS) statements are marked by a L% or H% boundary tone and questions by a L% boundary tone. CS and BAS follow the universal tendencies of interrogation, unlike DRS. This is the first study that explores the perception of different declarative and interrogative Spanish contours by L2 speakers using a gating paradigm.
Methods: Participants were auditorily presented with sentences produced by speakers of the three Spanish varieties. 60 stimuli were presented: 20 sentences containing two accentual phrases. 40 that contained either the first or the second accentual phrase of the complete sentences. Listeners were asked identify questions and statements in Qualtrics. The study involved 24 native speakers: 10 BAS, 7 DRS, and 9 CS speakers as control group for each variety condition. Additionally, 51 L2 Spanish speakers who were L1 of American English participated.
Predictions: DRS stimuli were predicted to be difficult to identify, since they don’t follow universal tendencies. The final contour would be easier to identify than the first half. Accuracy scores and reaction times should show differences. Lastly, a positive relationship is expected between proficiency and accuracy level.
Results: A binomial logistic regression showed group differences between the L2 and the CS and BAS control groups, however L2 speakers did not significantly differ from the DRS group. DRS sentences were not significantly the most challenging ones. As predicted, L2 participants perceived stimuli more accurately when the stimulus was a whole sentence rather than the partial sentences. As to the response times, a linear regression showed no statistically differences regardless of variety and sentence type. The results showed a moderate positive correlation between proficiency and accuracy. Listeners may have relied on universal tendencies for the identification of these contours and on the height of the first peak.
Full abstract
Perception and processing of Spanish questions and statements by L1 English/ L2 Spanish speakers
MBSC Council Room 306
Spanish declarative questions and statements often contrast only in their prosody. Variations in intonation contours are observed across Spanish-speaking countries. In Castilian Spanish (CS), questions typically end with a rise (H%), while in Buenos Aires Spanish (BAS), questions commonly end with a circumflex contour (HL%). Declaratives in both varieties typically end with a fall (L%). Dominican Spanish (DRS) statements are marked by a L% or H% boundary tone and questions by a L% boundary tone. CS and BAS follow the universal tendencies of interrogation, unlike DRS. This is the first study that explores the perception of different declarative and interrogative Spanish contours by L2 speakers using a gating paradigm.
Methods: Participants were auditorily presented with sentences produced by speakers of the three Spanish varieties. 60 stimuli were presented: 20 sentences containing two accentual phrases. 40 that contained either the first or the second accentual phrase of the complete sentences. Listeners were asked identify questions and statements in Qualtrics. The study involved 24 native speakers: 10 BAS, 7 DRS, and 9 CS speakers as control group for each variety condition. Additionally, 51 L2 Spanish speakers who were L1 of American English participated.
Predictions: DRS stimuli were predicted to be difficult to identify, since they don’t follow universal tendencies. The final contour would be easier to identify than the first half. Accuracy scores and reaction times should show differences. Lastly, a positive relationship is expected between proficiency and accuracy level.
Results: A binomial logistic regression showed group differences between the L2 and the CS and BAS control groups, however L2 speakers did not significantly differ from the DRS group. DRS sentences were not significantly the most challenging ones. As predicted, L2 participants perceived stimuli more accurately when the stimulus was a whole sentence rather than the partial sentences. As to the response times, a linear regression showed no statistically differences regardless of variety and sentence type. The results showed a moderate positive correlation between proficiency and accuracy. Listeners may have relied on universal tendencies for the identification of these contours and on the height of the first peak.