The effects of first-language sound change on second-language speech production

Recent studies have shown that the stop system of Korean is undergoing a sound change in which a consonantal opposition between lax and aspirated stops is merging in terms of voice onset time (VOT) whereas the contrast between the two stops is being maximized in terms of fundamental frequency (f0). This study investigates how the ongoing sound change of acoustic parameters in L1 Korean influences L2 English stop production. Results showed that, unlike the VOT merger in L1 Korean, it does not occur in L2 speech production. In contrast, similar to onset-f0 interaction in L1 Korean, there is a strong onset-f0 interaction in L2 English: voiced-low f0 and voiceless-high f0. Korean English learners use not only VOT but also f0 in contrasting an underlying [voice] distinction. The results suggest that f0 differences between lax and aspirated stops in L1 Korean are transferred to those between voiced and voiceless counterparts in L2 English. The findings are discussed with respect to cross-language phonetic effects and synchronic sound change.