A recent scientific study showed that the ability to distinguish subtle differences in sounds may help in learning to pronounce foreign languages more accurately, by reducing reliance on familiar phonetic patterns in the native language.
Sensitivity to phonetic differences
The "York Report" scientific website reported on Tuesday that researchers from University College London in the UK and Tohoku University in Japan found that individuals more sensitive to phonetic differences may be better able to distinguish unfamiliar sounds in foreign languages and pronounce them correctly.
Research methodology
The researchers tested 67 Japanese learners of English to measure their ability to notice subtle differences between sounds, including variations in tone and sound duration. They also studied their brain activity while distinguishing English sounds that have no direct equivalents in the Japanese language.
Results and applications
The results showed that learners with higher auditory discrimination abilities relied less on native language sound patterns when listening to foreign sounds, which helped them perceive differences between them more accurately. In contrast, learners with lower ability to distinguish sounds relied more heavily on familiar phonetic patterns, which may make it harder for them to recognize certain sounds of the new language and master their pronunciation.
Lead researcher Kazuya Saito Van Puiteren explained that language learning is not limited to memorizing vocabulary and listening to conversations, but can also benefit from developing the ability to notice subtle differences between sounds, which supports acquiring correct pronunciation. The researchers noted that the results could contribute to developing educational methods that combine language learning with auditory discrimination training, to help learners acquire new language sounds more effectively.
The study was published in the "Journal of Experimental Psychology: General," a journal specialized in experimental psychology.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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