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Examining Phonetic Cues in English Lexical Stress: A Comparative Study of Yemeni EFL Learners and American Speakers across Diverse Syllable Patterns, Word Lengths, and Proficiency Levels

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Title: Examining Phonetic Cues in English Lexical Stress: A Comparative Study of Yemeni EFL Learners and American Speakers across Diverse Syllable Patterns, Word Lengths, and Proficiency Levels
Language: English
Authors: Samah Yaslam, Paramaswari Jaganathan
Source: rEFLections. 2025 32(2):637-662.
Availability: King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi School of Liberal Arts. 126 Pracha Uthit Road, Bang Mod, Thung Khru, Bangkok, Thailand 10140. Tel: +66-2470-8756; Fax: +66-2428-3375; Web site: https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/reflections/index
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 26
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, English (Second Language), Phonetics, Cues, Vowels, Second Language Learning, Suprasegmentals, Arabs, Syllables, Undergraduate Students, Language Proficiency, Pronunciation, Native Speakers
Geographic Terms: United States, Yemen
ISSN: 1513-5934
2651-1479
Abstract: Producing English lexical stress involves manipulating phonetic cues such as vowel duration, intensity, and fundamental frequency (F0). Existing literature presents diverse perspectives on how EFL learners utilize these prosodic features to realize stress (Fry, 1955; Modesto & Barbosa, 2019; Saha & Mandal, 2018; Zhang & Francis, 2010; Zuraiq & Sereno, 2021). However, inconsistencies in methodology and limited stimulus sets across previous studies hinder cross-study comparisons. Addressing this gap, the present study examines whether the use of these cues by Arab EFL learners remains consistent across disyllabic and trisyllabic words or varies according to syllabic structure and word length. A total of 65 Yemeni undergraduates at two proficiency levels and 10 American native speakers were recruited to produce 21 disyllabic and 21 trisyllabic words in which the stressed syllable was clearly marked. The analysis revealed that similar to American speakers, Yemeni EFL learners employed vowel duration, intensity, and F0 to distinguish stressed syllables from unstressed ones. Results showed significant differences in the stressed-to-unstressed vowel ratio between Yemeni learners and American speakers. American speakers exhibited a more pronounced reduction in vowel duration, intensity, and F0 for unstressed syllables compared to Yemeni EFL learners. Additionally, the study found that the use of phonetic correlates varies between disyllabic and trisyllabic words and across different proficiency levels, indicating that the production of English lexical stress is influenced by syllable pattern, proficiency level and word length. These findings highlight the complexity of stress production in EFL learners and suggest that instructional strategies should consider these variabilities to improve learners' pronunciation skills.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1482990
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Examining Phonetic Cues in English Lexical Stress: A Comparative Study of Yemeni EFL Learners and American Speakers across Diverse Syllable Patterns, Word Lengths, and Proficiency Levels
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  Data: King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi School of Liberal Arts. 126 Pracha Uthit Road, Bang Mod, Thung Khru, Bangkok, Thailand 10140. Tel: +66-2470-8756; Fax: +66-2428-3375; Web site: https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/reflections/index
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  Data: Producing English lexical stress involves manipulating phonetic cues such as vowel duration, intensity, and fundamental frequency (F0). Existing literature presents diverse perspectives on how EFL learners utilize these prosodic features to realize stress (Fry, 1955; Modesto & Barbosa, 2019; Saha & Mandal, 2018; Zhang & Francis, 2010; Zuraiq & Sereno, 2021). However, inconsistencies in methodology and limited stimulus sets across previous studies hinder cross-study comparisons. Addressing this gap, the present study examines whether the use of these cues by Arab EFL learners remains consistent across disyllabic and trisyllabic words or varies according to syllabic structure and word length. A total of 65 Yemeni undergraduates at two proficiency levels and 10 American native speakers were recruited to produce 21 disyllabic and 21 trisyllabic words in which the stressed syllable was clearly marked. The analysis revealed that similar to American speakers, Yemeni EFL learners employed vowel duration, intensity, and F0 to distinguish stressed syllables from unstressed ones. Results showed significant differences in the stressed-to-unstressed vowel ratio between Yemeni learners and American speakers. American speakers exhibited a more pronounced reduction in vowel duration, intensity, and F0 for unstressed syllables compared to Yemeni EFL learners. Additionally, the study found that the use of phonetic correlates varies between disyllabic and trisyllabic words and across different proficiency levels, indicating that the production of English lexical stress is influenced by syllable pattern, proficiency level and word length. These findings highlight the complexity of stress production in EFL learners and suggest that instructional strategies should consider these variabilities to improve learners' pronunciation skills.
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 26
        StartPage: 637
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English (Second Language)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phonetics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cues
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      – SubjectFull: Vowels
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning
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      – SubjectFull: Suprasegmentals
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      – SubjectFull: Arabs
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      – SubjectFull: Syllables
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      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
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      – SubjectFull: Language Proficiency
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      – SubjectFull: Pronunciation
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      – SubjectFull: Native Speakers
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      – SubjectFull: United States
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      – SubjectFull: Yemen
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Examining Phonetic Cues in English Lexical Stress: A Comparative Study of Yemeni EFL Learners and American Speakers across Diverse Syllable Patterns, Word Lengths, and Proficiency Levels
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