Prosodic variation in L2: a case of Germans speaking English

The present study investigates prosodic variation as realized by L2 speakers of varying pronunciation ability in comparison with native speakers of English. The results demonstrate the distribution of the rising contours on both the phonological (ToBI frequencies) and phonetic (values for six parameters of the F0 curve) levels. The rising contours and pitch accents have a wider distribution in German productions, and are therefore closer to the German prosodic pattern, as opposed to the native realizations. Another peculiarity concerns the F0 peak frequency parameter in L*H accents as realized by the below-average informants. Their values are significantly different from those of the native and average speakers. Further phonetic differences are to be tested for consistency effects on the subsequent research stages.