View in EDS

Unpacking the Possible Effects of Working Memory and English Proficiency on Nuclear Accent Perception and Production in Chilean Learners of English

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Unpacking the Possible Effects of Working Memory and English Proficiency on Nuclear Accent Perception and Production in Chilean Learners of English
Language: English
Authors: Constanza Riquelme (ORCID 0009-0004-6697-7815), Yasna Pereira-Reyes (ORCID 0000-0002-7089-974X), Mauricio Véliz-Campos (ORCID 0000-0002-7537-1258)
Source: Language Teaching Research Quarterly. 2025 49:41-58.
Availability: European Knowledge Development (EUROKD). e-mail: editorial@eurokd.com; Web site: https://www.eurokd.com/journal/jd/1
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Short Term Memory, Suprasegmentals, Second Language Learning, English (Second Language), Spanish, Native Language, Pronunciation, College Students, Language Proficiency
Geographic Terms: Chile
ISSN: 2667-6753
Abstract: Prosody is considered one of the most challenging aspects of second language (L2) speech acquisition. This study explores the role of working memory (WM) in the perception and production of English nuclear accent (NA) by L1 Spanish learners. It focuses on both default and non-default patterns of NA placement in English. Twenty-four participants from an English teacher education programme in Concepción, Chile--who had completed an English intonation course--took part in perception and production tests, a proficiency test, and a reading span task to assess WM. Results revealed that participants perceived default NA patterns more accurately, while their production was stronger for non-default patterns. An asymmetry between perception and production emerged, as no direct correlation between these skills was found. Proficiency showed weak positive correlations with most variables. In contrast, WM revealed weak negative correlations across several measures, suggesting that higher WM capacity may not enhance NA perception or production. These subtle trends challenge assumptions about the facilitating role of WM in L2 prosody and indicate the need for further research.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1482186
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1482186
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1482186
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Unpacking the Possible Effects of Working Memory and English Proficiency on Nuclear Accent Perception and Production in Chilean Learners of English
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Constanza+Riquelme%22">Constanza Riquelme</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6697-7815">0009-0004-6697-7815</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yasna+Pereira-Reyes%22">Yasna Pereira-Reyes</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7089-974X">0000-0002-7089-974X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mauricio+Véliz-Campos%22">Mauricio Véliz-Campos</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7537-1258">0000-0002-7537-1258</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Language+Teaching+Research+Quarterly%22"><i>Language Teaching Research Quarterly</i></searchLink>. 2025 49:41-58.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: European Knowledge Development (EUROKD). e-mail: editorial@eurokd.com; Web site: https://www.eurokd.com/journal/jd/1
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 18
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Short+Term+Memory%22">Short Term Memory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Suprasegmentals%22">Suprasegmentals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Learning%22">Second Language Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spanish%22">Spanish</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Native+Language%22">Native Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pronunciation%22">Pronunciation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Proficiency%22">Language Proficiency</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chile%22">Chile</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2667-6753
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Prosody is considered one of the most challenging aspects of second language (L2) speech acquisition. This study explores the role of working memory (WM) in the perception and production of English nuclear accent (NA) by L1 Spanish learners. It focuses on both default and non-default patterns of NA placement in English. Twenty-four participants from an English teacher education programme in Concepción, Chile--who had completed an English intonation course--took part in perception and production tests, a proficiency test, and a reading span task to assess WM. Results revealed that participants perceived default NA patterns more accurately, while their production was stronger for non-default patterns. An asymmetry between perception and production emerged, as no direct correlation between these skills was found. Proficiency showed weak positive correlations with most variables. In contrast, WM revealed weak negative correlations across several measures, suggesting that higher WM capacity may not enhance NA perception or production. These subtle trends challenge assumptions about the facilitating role of WM in L2 prosody and indicate the need for further research.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1482186
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1482186
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 41
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Short Term Memory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Suprasegmentals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English (Second Language)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spanish
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Native Language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pronunciation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Proficiency
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chile
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Unpacking the Possible Effects of Working Memory and English Proficiency on Nuclear Accent Perception and Production in Chilean Learners of English
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Constanza Riquelme
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Yasna Pereira-Reyes
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mauricio Véliz-Campos
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2667-6753
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 49
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Language Teaching Research Quarterly
              Type: main
ResultId 1