The learning of pronunciation by first and adult second language learners: a multifaceted schema approach

Authors:

• Stanisław Puppel

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to argue for the relevance of the schema theoretic approach to the acquisition of first and second language phonology. It is proposed that the schema of a sound segment consists of five sub‐schemas: the goal of the segment, the path to be traversed in reaching the goal, the actual pattern of features (a feature template), the pattern of motor activation, and the endogenous motor command sub‐schema. It is further proposed that, while the operations of schema‐construction and schema‐updating are performed by first language acquirers, second language learners are confronted with the task of building a competing set of sound schemas. Copyright © 1994, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved