Ultrasound Visual Biofeedback and Accent Modification:Effects on Consonant and Vowel Accuracy for Mandarin English Language Learners

Abstract

To examine the effect of ultrasound visual biofeedback as a primary tool in accent modi fication services for American English consonant and vowel targets produced by native Mandarin speakers. Meth ods: The biofeedback was measured by perceptual and visual analyses. A single-subject ABAB withdrawal design was employed with two adults who spoke Mandarin as their first language. Ultrasound visual biofeedback, verbal cues, and perceptual training were implemented to improve production of /r/, /I/, and /! in words. Results: Per ceptual ratings by naive listeners indicated that phoneme production improved as a function of ultrasound visual biofeedback training. The participants also improved their ability to perceive phonetic differences as evidenced by quantitative analyses. Conclusion: Analyses showed that ultrasound visual biofeedback intervention improved pro duction accuracy for American English /r/, /I/, and /!/ produced by two native Mandarin speakers. Additionally, there was evidence of generalization to untrained targets and more challenging contexts.