Division of Humanities, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Research Centre for Language, Cognition, and Neuroscience, Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
J Acoust Soc Am. 2021 Jan;149(1):435. doi: 10.1121/10.0003330.
Contrary to studies on speech learning of consonants and vowels, the issue of individual variability is less well understood in the learning of lexical tones. Whereas existing studies have focused on contour-tone learning (Mandarin) by listeners without experience of a tonal language, this study addressed a research gap by investigating the perceptual learning of level-tone contrasts (Cantonese) by learners with experience of a contour-tone system (Mandarin). Critically, we sought to answer the question of how Mandarin listeners' initial perception and learning of Cantonese level-tones are affected by their musical and pitch aptitude. Mandarin-speaking participants completed a pretest, training, and a posttest in the level-tone discrimination and identification (ID) tasks. They were assessed in musical aptitude and speech and nonspeech pitch thresholds before training. The results revealed a significant training effect in the ID task but not in the discrimination task. Importantly, the regression analyses showed an advantage of higher musical and pitch aptitude in perceiving Cantonese level-tone categories. The results explained part of the level-tone learning variability in speakers of a contour-tone system. The finding implies that prior experience of a tonal language does not necessarily override the advantage of listeners' musical and pitch aptitude.
与对辅音和元音的语音学习的研究相反，在词汇音的学习中，个体变异性的问题理解得还不够充分。虽然现有的研究主要集中在没有声调语言经验的听众对旋律音的学习上，但本研究通过调查具有旋律音系统经验的学习者（普通话）对平调对比（粤语）的感知学习，填补了这一研究空白。至关重要的是，我们试图回答普通话听众对粤语平调的初始感知和学习如何受到他们的音乐和音高能力的影响。说普通话的参与者完成了声调辨别和识别（ID）任务的前测、训练和后测。他们在训练前接受了音乐能力和言语及非言语音高阈值的评估。结果显示，ID 任务中存在显著的训练效果，但在辨别任务中则没有。重要的是，回归分析显示，音乐和音高能力较高有助于感知粤语的平调类别。研究结果解释了具有旋律音系统的说话者在声调学习中的部分变异性。这一发现意味着，对声调语言的先验经验不一定会削弱听众的音乐和音高能力的优势。
