Phonetic drift in a first language dominant environment

Abstract

Phonetic drift, changes in the first language (L1) sound system as a result of acquiring a second language (L2), has been documented in learners immersed in L2-dominant environments. Less attention has been given to phonetic drift in speakers learning an L2 in L1-dominant environments. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of English learners of Spanish in the United States at beginning (N = 12), intermediate (N = 12), advanced (N = 9), and near native (N = 6) proficiency levels. Participants were recorded reading a pseudo-randomized list of words including heed, hayed, who’d, hoed to measure drift in vowels and poll, bowl, toll, dole, coal, goal to measure drift in oral stops. Significant differences in vowel quality and in the VOT of voiced stops were found. Intermediate, advanced, and near native learners of Spanish produced vowels in more peripheral positions of the vowel space than beginning learners of Spanish. Similarly, intermediate, advanced, and near native learners produced voiced stops with more negative VOTs than beginning learners. All of these effects were strongest in near native learners. These results suggest that phonetic drift occurs not only when learners are immersed in L2-dominant environments but also as a result of language instruction in L1-dominant environments.