Mandarin Neutral Tone by Native Speakers and Cantonese L2 Learners

This study compared neutral tone (T0) of Mandarin produced by native speakers and by Cantonese L2 learners, using both acoustic analysis and perceptual experiment. The T0 syllables after four different tones in three word contexts (i.e., isolated, non-focused, and on-focus) were investigated. The perceptual experiment showed that T0 in the L2 group obtained a lower rate of acceptance than in the L1 group; the difference was larger in isolated words than in sentences, and was larger after T2 than after other tones. Acoustic analysis showed that T0 in the L2 group, in general, had lower F0 value, narrower F0 range, smaller absolute F0 slope, and much longer duration than in the L1 group. The results of perceptual and acoustic studies are consistent, showing that Cantonese L2 learners, whose native language has no neutral tone, have not acquired Mandarin T0 appropriately. This study suggests that paying attention to the context-dependent characteristics of T0 will be helpful for L2 learners' production of T0 syllables.