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CALL Visual Feedback for Pronunciation of Vowels: Kay Sona-Match
Journal article   Peer reviewed

CALL Visual Feedback for Pronunciation of Vowels: Kay Sona-Match

Michael D Carey
CALICO Journal, Vol.21(3), pp.571-612
2004
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1558/cj.v21i3.571-601
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https://www.jstor.org/stable/24149798View
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Abstract

Language Studies Linguistics Literary Studies computer-based visual feedback systems vowel pronunciation Kay Sona-Match
This study reports on the effectiveness of computer-based visual feedback systems for the modification of ESL speakers' vowel quality. Various programs were examined, based on conformity to criteria that queried their scientific, pedagogic, and practical value. The criteria-selected program, Kay Sona-Match, is a visual feedback system that utilizes the formant frequency components (F1-F2) of the acoustic speech signal. It displays the user's vowel space in real time with the facility to mark up the vowel space with different phonetic fonts and authorable templates. While Sona-Match is a potentially useful program, it was not designed specifically for ESL applications, as the product manual testifies. Independent studies have not been conducted to ascertain whether such programs can render lasting modification of vowel quality. In the current study, pedagogy has been developed to accompany Sona-Match to assist Korean English speakers to add English vowel categories to their vowel space. An intervention experiment was conducted with a test group (n = 10) and control group (n = 9), and the outcomes were assessed by expert phonetician judges. A significant lasting improvement was found for the vowel /æ/ when the vowel was produced in citation form, but not in continuous speech. Action research was conducted simultaneously to determine the practicality of the software, to assess the experimental model, and to fine tune the pedagogy.

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