Quantity Convergence, Quality Divergence: Disentangling Fluency and Accuracy in L2 Mandarin Prosody
arXiv:2602.23071v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: While second language (L2) learners may acquire target syntactic word order, mapping this syntax onto appropriate prosodic structures remains a persistent challenge. This study investigates the fossilization and stability of the L2 syntax-prosody interface by comparing 67 native Mandarin speakers with 67 Vietnamese learners using the BLCU-SAIT corpus. By integrating C-ToBI boundary annotation with Dependency Grammar analysis, we examined both the quantity of prosodic boundaries and their mapping to syntactic relations. Results reveal a non-linear acquisition: although high-proficiency learners (VNH) converge to the native baseline in boundary quantity at the Major Phrase level (B3), their structural mapping significantly diverges. Specifically, VNH demote the prosodic boundary at the Subject-Verb (SBV) interface (Major Phrase B3 -> Prosodic Word B1), while erroneously promoting the boundary at the Verb-Object (VOB) interface (Prosodic Wo
arXiv:2602.23071v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: While second language (L2) learners may acquire target syntactic word order, mapping this syntax onto appropriate prosodic structures remains a persistent challenge. This study investigates the fossilization and stability of the L2 syntax-prosody interface by comparing 67 native Mandarin speakers with 67 Vietnamese learners using the BLCU-SAIT corpus. By integrating C-ToBI boundary annotation with Dependency Grammar analysis, we examined both the quantity of prosodic boundaries and their mapping to syntactic relations. Results reveal a non-linear acquisition: although high-proficiency learners (VNH) converge to the native baseline in boundary quantity at the Major Phrase level (B3), their structural mapping significantly diverges. Specifically, VNH demote the prosodic boundary at the Subject-Verb (SBV) interface (Major Phrase B3 -> Prosodic Word B1), while erroneously promoting the boundary at the Verb-Object (VOB) interface (Prosodic Word B1 -> Major Phrase B3). This strategy allows learners to maintain high long phrasal output at the expense of structural accuracy. This results in a distorted prosodic hierarchy where the native pattern is inverted.
Executive Summary
The article 'Quantity Convergence, Quality Divergence: Disentangling Fluency and Accuracy in L2 Mandarin Prosody' explores the challenges second language (L2) learners face in achieving native-like prosody in Mandarin. Using the BLCU-SAIT corpus, the study compares 67 native Mandarin speakers with 67 Vietnamese learners, focusing on the syntax-prosody interface. The findings reveal that while high-proficiency learners (VNH) converge with native speakers in the quantity of prosodic boundaries at the Major Phrase level (B3), they diverge significantly in the structural mapping of these boundaries. Specifically, VNH learners demote boundaries at the Subject-Verb (SBV) interface and erroneously promote boundaries at the Verb-Object (VOB) interface, leading to a distorted prosodic hierarchy.
Key Points
- ▸ High-proficiency L2 learners converge with native speakers in the quantity of prosodic boundaries at the Major Phrase level.
- ▸ L2 learners diverge from native speakers in the structural mapping of prosodic boundaries, particularly at the SBV and VOB interfaces.
- ▸ The study highlights a trade-off between fluency and accuracy in L2 prosody acquisition.
Merits
Comprehensive Methodology
The study employs a robust methodology, integrating C-ToBI boundary annotation with Dependency Grammar analysis, which provides a detailed examination of both the quantity and quality of prosodic boundaries.
Insightful Findings
The findings reveal a nuanced understanding of the syntax-prosody interface in L2 acquisition, highlighting the complex interplay between fluency and accuracy.
Demerits
Limited Generalizability
The study focuses solely on Vietnamese learners of Mandarin, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other L2 learner populations.
Corpus Limitations
The reliance on the BLCU-SAIT corpus may introduce biases or limitations inherent to the corpus, which could affect the validity of the findings.
Expert Commentary
The study 'Quantity Convergence, Quality Divergence: Disentangling Fluency and Accuracy in L2 Mandarin Prosody' offers a significant contribution to the field of second language acquisition, particularly in the area of prosody. The integration of C-ToBI boundary annotation with Dependency Grammar analysis provides a comprehensive approach to examining the syntax-prosody interface. The findings reveal a non-linear acquisition pattern, where high-proficiency learners converge with native speakers in the quantity of prosodic boundaries but diverge in their structural mapping. This divergence highlights the trade-off between fluency and accuracy, a critical insight for both language teaching and policy. However, the study's focus on Vietnamese learners of Mandarin limits its generalizability, and future research should explore these patterns in other L2 learner populations. Additionally, the reliance on a single corpus may introduce biases, necessitating further validation with diverse datasets. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the complexities of L2 prosody acquisition and underscores the need for nuanced approaches in language instruction and policy.
Recommendations
- ✓ Future research should expand the study to include a more diverse range of L2 learner populations to enhance the generalizability of the findings.
- ✓ Incorporate the insights from this study into language teaching methodologies to better address the challenges learners face in achieving native-like prosody.
