Document Type

Article

Publication Date

May 2018

Publication Title

Studies in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics

Volume

11

Issue Number

1

DOI

10.1515/shll-2018-0003

ISSN

2199-3386

Keywords

phonetic development, second language acquisition, Spanish, study abroad, vowels

Disciplines

First and Second Language Acquisition | Phonetics and Phonology | Spanish Linguistics

Abstract

The present study explored development in Spanish vowel production during a short-term study abroad program. The production patterns of a group of learners studying abroad in a 4-week program in the Dominican Republic were compared in terms of overall vowel quality, tendency to diphthongize /e/ and /o/, and vowel duration to those of a similar group of learners studying in the at-home context. Results revealed no significant changes or differences between groups in vowel quality or diphthongization, but a significant improvement (i.e., reduction) in vowel duration for /a/, /o/, and /u/ for the at-home group only. Findings are discussed in relation to previous research, and areas for future research are outlined.

Comments

This article was published in Studies in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics, volume 11, issue 1, 2018 by De Gruyter. The article can also be found online at this link: https://doi.org/10.1515/shll-2018-0003.

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