PRONUNCIATION PATTERNS AMONG L2 HUL’Q’UMI’NUM’ LEARNERS: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Abstract

This paper reports on a study of pronunciation errors made by adult learners of Hul’q’umi’num’, a Central Salish language known for its rich consonantal system and complex syllable structure. Analyzing a set of 2,915 elicited words, across four pronunciation tests and 35 speakers, we are able to identify several factors contributing to learners’ pronunciation errors; some of these are relatively broad (L1 transfer effects; effects of hyper-articulation), and others are more specific (e.g. familiarity of lexical items and sound/sequences, word, syllable, and stress position, phonetic robustness). Our paper lays the foundation for effective pronunciation instruction in the context of Hul’q’umi’num’ (and Coast Salish) language revitalization, and also contributes to broadening our understanding of L2 pronunciation cross-linguistically.