Audio and audiovisual training equally enhance second language segmental perception

Abstract

This study investigates the efficacy of high variability phonetic training, using audiovisual stimuli, in improving the perception of L2 Southern Standard British English (SSBE) phonemes by L1 Italian speakers. Participants underwent an audio pre-test and were assigned to audio, audiovisual, or control training groups. The post-test results revealed that audio and audiovisual training significantly improved the phoneme identification accuracy compared to the control group. However, during the training, the audiovisual information positively influenced the identification of L2 vowels. This improvement is, however, temporary. According to the Analysis by Synthesis model, our findings suggest l that learners have the acoustic signal as privileged cue for building their phonetic-phonological representations. Their learning is facilitated only when the acoustic signal contains information related to distinctive features already active in the contrastive system of the L1. Further exploration of the interactions between auditory and articulatory information is essential for developing effective teaching approaches to L2 phonemes perception.