How does phonetic interference affect French language learning

Phonetic interference significantly affects French language learning by causing learners to transfer sounds, intonation patterns, and pronunciation habits from their first language (L1) or previously learned languages to French. This interference manifests in difficulties with French-specific sounds such as [ɛ̃] (nasal vowel) and [ʒ] (the “zh” sound), leading to mispronunciations. It can also affect intonation, rhythm, and phoneme articulation, thus making the speech sound unnatural or accented to native French speakers.

Phonetic interference leads to challenges such as hypercorrection, lower self-esteem due to peer ridicule, and increased difficulty in acquiring correct pronunciation patterns without explicit feedback or focused instruction. Strategies like reading aloud, phonetic drills, contrastive analysis, and exposure to native speakers’ accents are commonly used to mitigate these effects and improve learners’ phonetic accuracy.

Moreover, phonetic interference can affect the auditory perception of French sounds, complicating speech comprehension and production, particularly for learners who have limited exposure or motivation and rely heavily on their L1 phonetic system. Teacher intervention and a positive learning environment are essential to address these challenges effectively. ^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

References

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