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Accounting for phonological and sociolinguistic variability in L2 speech: The acquisition of rhoticity by Chinese learners of English.

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Title: Accounting for phonological and sociolinguistic variability in L2 speech: The acquisition of rhoticity by Chinese learners of English.
Authors: Li, Zeyu1 (AUTHOR) zeyu.li@tjut.edu.cn
Source: Second Language Research. Jul2026, Vol. 42 Issue 3, p377-397. 21p.
Subject Terms: *Second language acquisition, *Language transfer (Language learning), *Variation in language, *Chinese-speaking students, *Phonology, Sociolinguistics
Abstract: The present study investigates the factors that modulate phonological and sociolinguistic variation in second language (L2) speech by examining the acquisition of English rhoticity by Chinese learners. Rhoticity is a salient sociolinguistic variable that robustly indexes phonological, stylistic, and social differences in both learners' first language (L1) Mandarin and target language (TL) English. Drawing on speech data from 47 learners collected twice over a time span of six months, this study aims to explore the interplay between phonological and non-phonological constraints on the variable patterns of L2 rhoticity and the impact of the L1 sociolinguistic system on L2 speech. Results of mixed effects logistic regression models reveal considerable inter- and intra-learner variability in L2 rhoticity, indicating that both phonological and non-phonological factors condition this variation. The findings suggest L1 transfer in its structural, stylistic and social properties in the learners' L2 speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Second Language Research is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Accounting for phonological and sociolinguistic variability in L2 speech: The acquisition of rhoticity by Chinese learners of English.
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  Data: The present study investigates the factors that modulate phonological and sociolinguistic variation in second language (L2) speech by examining the acquisition of English rhoticity by Chinese learners. Rhoticity is a salient sociolinguistic variable that robustly indexes phonological, stylistic, and social differences in both learners' first language (L1) Mandarin and target language (TL) English. Drawing on speech data from 47 learners collected twice over a time span of six months, this study aims to explore the interplay between phonological and non-phonological constraints on the variable patterns of L2 rhoticity and the impact of the L1 sociolinguistic system on L2 speech. Results of mixed effects logistic regression models reveal considerable inter- and intra-learner variability in L2 rhoticity, indicating that both phonological and non-phonological factors condition this variation. The findings suggest L1 transfer in its structural, stylistic and social properties in the learners' L2 speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Second Language Research is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1177/02676583251332113
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      – SubjectFull: Variation in language
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      – SubjectFull: Chinese-speaking students
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              Text: Jul2026
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