An ultrasonographic and acoustic study of two minimal pairs in English: a North American’s and a Brazilian speaker’s vowel productions contrasted
Comparing articulatory and acoustic characteristics is relevant because they exhibit congruence and carry crucial information for maintaining perceptual contrasts. In this paper, articulatory and acoustic data of English front vowel minimal pair productions are analyzed in a case study comparing the...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Online |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universidade Estadual de Campinas
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://econtents.sbu.unicamp.br/inpec/index.php/joss/article/view/20305 |
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| Summary: | Comparing articulatory and acoustic characteristics is relevant because they exhibit congruence and carry crucial information for maintaining perceptual contrasts. In this paper, articulatory and acoustic data of English front vowel minimal pair productions are analyzed in a case study comparing the speech productions of a North American English speaker and a Brazilian Portuguese speaker. The analysis comprises acoustic metrics (F0, F1, F2 in Hz and duration in ms) and ultrasound data. The results of the ultrasound and acoustic analyses of English vowel minimal pairs produced by the Brazilian speaker show that front vowel contrasts existing in the L2 (English) but not in the L1 (Portuguese) were not implemented by the L2 speaker, despite her having formal instruction in English. Specifically, the mid-low and low vowel minimal pair was undifferentiated in the Brazilian speaker’s productions. These results reinforce the need for research into and implementation of speech production and perception training practices in L2 instruction. |
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| ISSN: | 2236-9740 |
