年齡因素和第二語言音韻特定系統的習得

Age-related Factors and the Specifics of Second Language Phonology

此篇論文探討年齡相關因素和第二語言音韻習得的問題。先前的研究多關心年齡因素和廣泛外國腔調程度的問題，本研究則是探討年齡因素和音韻特定系統的習得（即：英語字重音指派）的關係。利用英文假字指派字重音的實驗，我們比較英語母語人士和中文母語人士的表現，發現年齡相關因素不僅在預測廣泛外國腔調有效，而且對第二語言音韻特定系統（如：英語字重音系統）也有效預測。此外，到達年齡（AOA）的預測能力比居住長短（LOR）的預測能力來得強。結論是廣泛外國腔調有一部份是緣自非目標語的字重音指派形式。

This study tests whether age-related factors serve as effective predictors in one specific area of adult second language (L2), i.e. English word stress assignment by native speakers of Chinese. A perceptual stress preference task with English non-words of 2 to 3 syllables was carried out. Comparing the performance of English natives and Chinese EFL learners, it is found that age factors are good predictors of not only perceived global foreign accent but also the domain of L2 word stress placement. In addition, while both age of arrival (AOA) and length of residence (LOR) predict native-like stress placement of L2 learners, the model suggests that the predictive ability of AOA is stronger than LOR. It is therefore suggested that non-native-like stress placement is a substantial contributing factor to perceived foreign accent. 此篇論文探討年齡相關因素和第二語言音韻習得的問題。先前的研究多關心年齡因素和廣泛外國腔調程度的問題，本研究則是探討年齡因素和音韻特定系統的習得（即：英語字重音指派）的關係。利用英文假字指派字重音的實驗，我們比較英語母語人士和中文母語人士的表現，發現年齡相關因素不僅在預測廣泛外國腔調有效，而且對第二語言音韻特定系統（如：英語字重音系統）也有效預測。此外，到達年齡（AOA）的預測能力比居住長短（LOR）的預測能力來得強。結論是廣泛外國腔調有一部份是緣自非目標語的字重音指派形式。