Experimental phonetics related to foreign language learning
Patrizia Bonaventura
Department of Communication Sciences
Friday 12 May 2006, 1:00pm
Guilford Parlor
Phonetic experimentation provides a description of the sounds of the world languages
from an articulatory, acoustic and perceptual point of view. Beyond their scientific value,
the results of the phonetic analysis can be used to facilitate acquisition and learning of
second languages, by improving both pronunciation and comprehension. The present talk
will provide a basic description of the sound systems of several languages (English,
French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Japanese) from a phonetic and
phonological point of view, and will present computerized tools to correct errors in
pronunciation of second language by nonnative speakers.