Training Non-Native Consonant Production with Perceptual and Articulatory Cues

Abstract

Background/Aims: Adult learners often struggle to produce novel phonemes in a second language and lack clear articulatory targets. This study investigates the combined efficacy of perceptual and articulatory training, the latter involving explicit instruction about tongue position and laryngeal control, for the production of non-native phonemes. Methods: Native English speakers were trained on a series of Hindi coronal stop consonants, with production assessed before, during, and after training sessions, on the basis of acoustic cues to place of articulation and voicing. Results: Improvement in production was most apparent during artic ulatory training, when cues to target articulation were available to learners. Some improvements were maintained after training was concluded. Conclusion: Articulatory training can contribute useful cues to pronunciation for early learners. Improvement in acquisition of targets varies in stability across learners and targets.