Sixth Annual Conference
Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California USA
Looking at L2 Pronunciation Research from Varying Perspectives
September 5-6, 2014
Plenary Speaker
Alene Moyer, University of Maryland
Pronunciation instruction is increasingly popular in language classrooms around the world, in second language and foreign language contexts. Issues of intelligibility (Munro & Derwing, 1995) vs. nativeness (Levis, 2005), functional load (Brown, 1991; Munro & Derwing, 2006), effective instructional techniques for overcoming learning plateaus (Acton, 1986; Hardison, 2004; Goodwin, 2006), fluency (Derwing et al., 2008) and the relative roles of suprasegmentals and segmentals in instruction (Hahn, 2004) have all been examined in multiple studies. However, a large majority of important research into pronunciation has been carried out with English as the target language, despite the importance L2 pronunciation in other languages, such as Japanese (e.g., Hirata, 2004), Spanish (e.g., Lord, 2008), French (Ruellot, 2006), German (Moyer, 1999), Chinese (Liu et al, 2000), and Dutch (Bongaerts, Mennen & Slik, 2000), among others. Research from a wide variety of L2 learning contexts is essential to filling out the current English-centric research agenda.
The 6th Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Conference invites proposals for papers and posters on all topics related to naturalistic and classroom pronunciation acquisition and learning. We especially welcome proposals for papers on pronunciation in a wide variety of L2s other than English. Possible paper topics include descriptive and experimental studies, re-examinations of key research findings (e.g., intelligibility, comprehensibility and accentedness) in new languages, technology in the teaching of pronunciation, and innovative approaches to teacher education.
In addition to papers related to the place of pronunciation in L2s other than English, the conference invites proposals for papers or posters on any aspect of pronunciation research, teaching and learning. Papers will be given in English.