The Influence of Japanese Learning Experience on Perception of Low-High vs. High-Low Accent Contrast: Identification Experiments with Native Chinese Speakers

Abstract

First language experience affects the processing of Japanese pitch accents; however, the influence of second language learning experience is unclear. The present study utilized identification experiments to compare the difference among native Japanese speakers (JN), native Chinese speakers with no experience of Japanese (CN), and native Chinese speakers with high Japanese proficiency (CJ). The results showed that identification responses to high-low vs. low-high accent differed between CN and CJ, indicating that Japanese learning experience alters listeners' perception of Japanese pitch accent. CN are more sensitive to stimuli with gradual decreases in pitch, and tend to identify them as high-low accent. On the other hand, CJ are not sensitive to such stimuli, and tend to identify them as low-high accent.