Analysis of Intermediate Chinese Learners' Persistent Errors in the Production of Tone 2 in Mandarin Chinese

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Date

2018-10

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Ohio State University. Libraries

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Abstract

This study examines the persistent errors of intermediate-level Chinese language learners in the production of Tone 2. Four Chinese native speakers' production of Tone 2 in isolation and in each of its possible tone combinations in bi-syllabic words serves as a point of comparison for the analysis of the production of the same tokens of Tone 2 by four intermediate-level learners of Chinese. The analysis specifically focuses on comparing the pitch contour of non-native speakers with native speakers of Mandarin. Different pitch contours for non-native speaker production of Tone 2 are identified and evaluated. The results of this study challenge teachers and textbook writers to re-consider how tones are visually represented to students and suggest pedagogical interventions for intermediate-level students with persistent Tone 2 errors.

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Keywords

Tone 2, pitch contour, native speaker production, non-native speaker production

Citation

Cornelius, Crista and Bing Mu. "Analysis of Intermediate Chinese Learners' Persistent Errors in the Production of Tone 2 in Mandarin Chinese." Buckeye East Asian Linguistics, vol. 3 (October 2018), p. 21-30.