Managing Cross-Language Interference: Phonetic instruction and cognate status in VOT Adjustment in L2 Spanish

Overview
This project investigates whether explicit phonetic instruction in a college-level Spanish Phonetics and Phonology course facilitates the acquisition of native-like VOT patterns in L2 Spanish among English-speaking learners. Additionally, it examines whether lexical properties, specifically cognate status, modulate learners’ phonetic performance, given that words with high cross-linguistic overlap are known to elicit greater interference.

Goals

• Compare VOT production across languages in L2 learners of Spanish
• Explore whether explicit phonetic instruction reduces cross-language interference
• Explore whether cognate status modulates VOT production and the effects of phonetic instruction

Methods

• Pre-semester and post-semester production tasks (read aloud) in Spanish and English
• Acoustic analysis in Praat

Summary of Preliminary Results

• A clear distinction between English and Spanish productions
• After explicit instruction, participants’ Spanish /t/ productions showed a significant reduction in VOT
• L1 English VOT remained stable
• Cognate status did not influence VOT values in either session

Project Status

• Data collection of control group in progress
• Preliminary results available
• Manuscript in progress