How native-like can you possibly get: fMRI evidence for processing accent.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

If ever attained, adopting native-like accent is achieved late in the learning process. Resemblance between L2 and mother tongue can facilitate L2 learning. In particular, cognates (phonologically and semantically similar words across languages), offer the opportunity to examine the issue of foreign accent in quite a unique manner.

Methods

Twelve Spanish speaking (L1) adults learnt French (L2) cognates and practiced their native-like pronunciation by means of a computerized method. After consolidation, they were tested on L1 and L2 oral picture- naming during fMRI scanning.

Results and discussion

The results of the present study show that there is a specific impact of accent on brain activation, even if L2 words are cognates, and belong to a pair of close

SUBMITTER: Ghazi-Saidi L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4626569 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature