Presentation

Impact of Prosodic Training on Speech Rhythm in L2 French

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Abstract

Several second language studies show the benefits of a prosodic training on fluency, rhythm, comprehensibility, and listening skills over oral comprehension and production activities. However, very few concern the acquisition of French as a Foreign Language (FFL). This study tests the impact of an FFL prosodic training on learners' speech rhythm. Speech rhythm is understood as a multifaceted construct that includes temporal variables, accentuation patterns, fluency and rhythm metrics. 11 L1-English speakers learners of French were split into two groups. One was trained on French prosody, the other did oral production and comprehension activities (12h/four weeks). Acoustic measures of speech rhythm were extracted on a free speech task, and compared within-speaker (pre-post-tests) and between groups. Preliminary results indicate benefits from the prosodic training over oral production and comprehension activities on Inter Pausal Units and pauses quantity and duration, and disfluencies. However, results were inconsistent on the nPVI.

Keywords: L2 prosody, speech rhythm, instruction type, L2 French

How to Cite:

Drouillet, L., Alazard, C., & Astésano, C. (2024). Impact of Prosodic Training on Speech Rhythm in L2 French Proceedings of 14^th Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Conference, (pp. 1-13). Purdue University, September 2023. https://doi.org/10.31274/psllt.17100