Acoustic, Auditory and Articulatory Analysis of Vowel Sequences in Japanese by Chinese Learners

Abstract

This study examined the acoustic features and perceptual patterns by native and non-native speakers, and articulatory movements of vowel sequences in Japanese produced by Chinese learners (N1 holders). The participants were 19 Chinese learners and 7 native speakers of Japanese, all of whom were asked to pronounce nonsense words containing vowel sequences (e.g., /saesae/). During these pronunciations, the movements of the tongue were simultaneously recorded using ultrasound imaging. The native Japanese speakers revealed different formant distributions for each vowel. However, for the Chinese learners, there was a notable acoustic overlap in the second vowel of vowel sequences. In particular, the similarity in the tongue shapes between the vowels /ai/ and /ae/, as well as /au/ and /ao/, was observed. These findings indicate a strong influence of the native language, and even among advanced learners, reduced acoustic and articulatory properties of the second vowel in vowel sequences was confirmed.