An Acoustic Study on The Acquisition of English Stops Produced by Qingdao Dialect Speakers

Abstract

English pronunciation, as one part of language communication, is an inseparable part of language acquisition. In foreign language learning, it is necessary not only to acquire language, but also to acquire the pronunciation of oral communication so as to avoid cultural conflicts and differences as much as possible, and to improve the standardization and accuracy of English language expression. The neglect of pronunciation will lead to obstacles in cultural communication, so it is significant to study the pronunciation of local dialect for English speakers. Qingdao is located in the coastal area of Shandong province with its unique pronunciation, which feature imperceptibly affects the local people’s oral English acquisition. The experimental objects are six English stops,[p][b][d][t][g][k]. In this study, we collect stops in Qingdao dialect and English stops produced by Qingdao Dialect speakers. Through VOT and GAP experimental chart analysis, the aims are to a) determine the sound patterns of stops in Qingdao Dialect; b) compare English stops produced by Qingdao dialect speakers and native speakers. The result demonstrates Qingdao dialect do influence their English acquisition. Thus relevancy refers to the aspect of positive and negative transfer impact of Qingdao dialect on acquisition of English stops. For Qingdao local English learners, there is still a potential space for them to completely grasping the accurate way to pronounce English stops.