Effects of L1 Phonotactic Constraints on L2 Word Segmentation Strategies

In the present study, it was examined whether phonotactic constraints of the first language affect speech processing by Japanese learners of English and whether L2 proficiency influences it. Seventeen native English speakers (ES), 18 Japanese speakers with high proficiency of English (JH), and 20 Japanese speakers with relatively low English proficiency (JL) took part in a monitoring task. Two types of target words (CVC/CV, e.g., team/tea) were embedded in bisyllabic nonwords (e.g., teamfesh) and given to the participants with other non-words in the lists. The three groups were instructed to respond as soon as they spot targets, and response times and error rates were analyzed. The results showed that all of the groups segmented the CVC target words significantly faster and more accurately than the CV targets. L1 phonontactic constraints did not hinder L2 speech processing, and a word segmentation strategy was not language-specific in the case of Japanese English learners.