Effects of L2 experience on the production of Korean stop contrasts by Mandarin Chinese learners

Effects of L2 experience on the segmental and prosodic production of second language were investigated. Thirty two Chinese learners of Korean varying in the amount of experience (3 months vs. 2 years) were compared to sixteen age-matched native Korean speakers in their production of three-way contrastive stops (aspirated, lenis, tense). Korean four-syllable phrases (i.e., Accentual Phrase) beginning with each stop type in a word-initial position were elicited. VOT, F0, H1-H2 values of the segments as well as an Accentual phrase-initial boundary tones were analyzed and compared across groups. The results showed significant differences in F0 and H1-H2 as a result of experience, albeit F0 was not native-like in the experienced group's production. The Accentual phrases-initial boundary tones, however, were produced with a native-like F0 pattern regardless of the amount of L2 experience. The native-like production of VOT and F0 in the tonal context in both L2 groups is likely to be the influence of L1, whereas the improved cues, H1-H2 and F0 in the segmental context, are the result of L2 experience.