Non-native perception of laryngeal features

Abstract

This thesis investigated the role of phonological features and phonetic factors in the perception of non-native contrasts and demonstrated that cross-language perception may shed light on the nature of Ll underlying representations. The experimental design was based on a theory that English uses the feature [spread glottis] while French uses the feature [voice] to distinguish voiced and voiceless stops. Native-English and -French speakers were tested on their perception of Hindi laryngeal stop contrasts which are thought to contrast both these features. Results from an ABX task showed that English speakers performed significantly better on contrasts involving the feature [ spread glottis] and the French did significantly better on contrasts involving the feature [voice]. This is consistent with the assumption that English and French have different active phonological features. However, the role of phonetic information is considered as well, because Brown's Feature Model (1998, 2000), in its strongest interpretation, is not supported.