汉语母语儿童英语韵律模式和习得年龄效应:基于声学分析的证据

Prosodic features of English production and the AoA effect for Chinese primary schoolers——Evidence from an acoustic analysis

本研究基于ToBI韵律标注体系,使用Praat软件对照分析70名中国汉语母语儿童和15名加拿大英语母语儿童的英语语音韵律特征,考察韵律特征和习得年龄之间的关系。研究发现,两类样本的英语韵律特征存在显著性差异。和英语母语者相比,英语二语学习者语速更慢、音高重音错位、次短语过多、边界调位置异常。控制英语学习年限和生理年龄前后,习得年龄和韵律各变量之间的相关模式出现反转。方差分析显示,习得年龄对英语二语学习者的韵律效应不显著。研究结果对外语环境下外语学习最佳起始年龄具有一定启示。

By using the ToBI system and the Praat software, the present study makes an acoustic analysis on the prosodic features of 70 native Chinese children who learn English as a foreign language ( EFL) and 15 Canadian children who are native English speakers ( NES), and examines the age of acquisition (AoA) effect on the prosodic features. The results show that there are significant differences in prosodic features between EFL and NES children. Specifically, compared with NES, EFL learners are characterized by lower speech rates, misplaced stresses, excessive intermediate phrases and odd boundary tones. With vs. without controlling the length of language learning and chronological age, the relationship between AoA and prosodic patterns reverses. ANOVA results reveal that AoA has little influence on the various prosodic patterns of EFL learners. The findings are insightful for the optimal onset age of foreign language acquisition in the foreign language context.