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High-Variability Phonetic Training Under Different Conditions: Individual Differences in Auditory Attention Control

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Theoretical and Practical Developments in English Speech Assessment, Research, and Training

Part of the book series: Second Language Learning and Teaching ((SLLT))

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Abstract

Cognitive attention control guides auditory processes during speech processing but its contribution to L2 speech learning remains under-researched. This study examined the interaction between individual differences in auditory selective attention (ASA) and attention switching (ASW), and the effectiveness of high-variability phonetic training (HVPT) administered under different stimuli and presentation conditions to improve L2 learners’ sensitivity to an L2 vowel contrast and its lexical encoding. Catalan-Spanish bilingual adult learners of English (N = 102) were randomly assigned to eight HVPT groups and trained in four 35-min sessions on the perception and production of English /æ/ and /ʌ/ through identification, discrimination, and immediate repetition tasks. Learners’ gains were assessed through ABX discrimination and delayed word repetition tasks. Lexical encoding was tested through lexical decision and delayed sentence repetition tasks. We measured ASA through a single-talker competition paradigm and ASW through a novel speech-based version of the alternating-runs task-switching paradigm. Results showed that ASA was often related to pre-test (T1) and post-test (T2) perception accuracy but unrelated to either production accuracy or T1-T2 perceptual and production gains. However, ASW was related to /æ/ and /ʌ/ perception and production gains, but this varied as a function of stimuli type and presentation condition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Ingrid Mora-Plaza, Mireia Ortega & Joan C. Mora

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  1. Ingrid Mora-Plaza
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  2. Mireia Ortega
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  3. Joan C. Mora
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Correspondence to Ingrid Mora-Plaza .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Instruction and Leadership in Education, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Veronica G. Sardegna

  2. Faculty of Philology, Institute of English Studies, University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland

    Anna Jarosz

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Mora-Plaza, I., Ortega, M., Mora, J.C. (2022). High-Variability Phonetic Training Under Different Conditions: Individual Differences in Auditory Attention Control. In: Sardegna, V.G., Jarosz, A. (eds) Theoretical and Practical Developments in English Speech Assessment, Research, and Training. Second Language Learning and Teaching. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98218-8_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98218-8_14

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