Presentation

Foreign accent imitation: Evidence of VOT change

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Abstract

Second language (L2) speech learning models suggest that learners’ ability to develop L2 phonetic categories depends on perceiving differences between L2 sounds and their closest first language (L1) counterparts. L2 accent imitation on the L1 (L2AIL1) may facilitate this and reflect implicit cross-language phonological awareness. Previous research has examined L2 voice onset time (VOT) and its pedagogical applications through L2AIL1. However, VOT in English-accented L1 has not been systematically compared across L1 French, Spanish, and Polish learners using comparable stimuli and tasks. Fifty-eight learners read aloud The Three Little Pigs three times: in their L1, then L2 English, and finally imitating an Anglophone speaking their L1 (L2AIL1). Approximately 30 words per language were analysed, containing /p, t, k/ in mono- and disyllabic words (10 per consonant) in word-initial or stressed syllables. We performed acoustic analyses of normalized VOT and conducted within-group (across reading conditions) and between-group (across L1s) comparisons using linear mixed-effects models. Overall, the analysis indicated that learners were generally successful at imitating an English accent by making use of L2-specific VOT patterns, with variations across the three L1 groups in terms of place of articulation. The correlation analysis also revealed an association between the L2AIL1 and L2-English reading conditions at individual level.

Keywords: foreign accent imitation, VOT, English, Spanish, French, Polish, pronunciation, second language

How to Cite:

Henderson, A., Mora, J. C., Chanethom, V., & Rojczyk, A., (2026). Foreign accent imitation: Evidence of VOT change. In P. Trofimovich, A. Bodea, T.-N. N. Le, R. Suzuki, & C. Teló (Eds.), Proceedings of the 16th Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Conference (pp. 1–12). Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, October 2025. https://doi.org/10.31274/psllt.22583