How effective are ultrasound assessments in Japanese pronunciation training

Ultrasound assessments have shown to be quite effective in Japanese pronunciation training, especially for second language learners aiming to improve articulatory accuracy. Studies have demonstrated that ultrasound visual feedback can significantly improve tongue movement and vowel production, which are crucial for accurate pronunciation. For instance, one study involving Japanese-speaking learners showed improvement in the production of French vowels and contrasts after ultrasound-assisted training, suggesting similar benefits could apply in training Japanese pronunciation or other second languages. ^{1, 2}

Another study focusing on tongue movement during articulation practice with ultrasound imaging in Japanese speakers indicated significant improvements in speed and regularity of articulatory movements after training, with lasting effects observed months later. This highlights the utility of ultrasound as a non-invasive, real-time visual biofeedback tool to enhance pronunciation skills. ^{3, 4}

Overall, ultrasound assessments provide detailed articulatory information that helps learners visualize and adjust tongue positions effectively, leading to measurable gains in pronunciation training for Japanese and potentially other languages. ^{2, 4, 1}

References

• The effectiveness of real-time ultrasound visual feedback on tongue movements in L2 pronunciation training

• A real-time articulatory visual feedback approach with target presentation for second language pronunciation learning.

• Effectiveness of an Ultrasound Visual Biofeedback Training for Tongue Shape Assessment During Speech Sound Production.

• Evaluating Effectiveness of Articulation Practice with Tongue-twister Movement Distance Using Ultrasound.

• Evaluating the impact of the ELSA app on Japanese students’ focus on pronunciation and motivation

• Music and Choreography Metaphors in Spoken Language Rhythm Modelling and Their Application to Computer-Assisted Pronunciation Training for Mora-Timed Japanese

• Research on the Assessment Approaches to Pronunciation Training for Pre-Service EFL Teachers

• Present state analysis and measurement of pronunciation training effectiveness in English acquisition: Relationships between production patterns and English proficiencies

• Comprehensive assessment of heavy slow resistance training and high-dose therapeutic ultrasound in managing patellar tendinopathy, a randomized single-blind controlled trial

• Developing and Assessing an Integrated Comprehensive Obstetric Ultrasound Training Program for Undergraduate Medical Students – the Fetal Assessment in Medical Education Study (FAME study)

• Implementation and Assessment of a Curriculum for Renal Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Training

• Real-time Ultrasound-enhanced Multimodal Imaging of Tongue using 3D Printable Stabilizer System: A Deep Learning Approach

• Implementation and assessment of a pediatric point-of-care ultrasound training course in Japan: a pilot study

• Development of a national point-of-care ultrasound training course for physicians in Japan: A 3-year evaluation

• Tongue Contour Tracking and Segmentation in Lingual Ultrasound for Speech Recognition: A Review

• A Qualitative Analysis of Clinician Perspectives of Ultrasound Biofeedback for Speech Sound Disorders.

• Optimizing second language pronunciation instruction: Replications of Martin and Sippel (2021), Olson and Offerman (2021), and Thomson (2012)

• Ultrasound visual feedback treatment and practice variability for residual speech sound errors.

• Neural Attunement Processes in Infants during the Acquisition of a Language-Specific Phonemic Contrast

• How Does Having a Good Ear Promote Instructed Second Language Pronunciation Development? Roles of Domain‐General Auditory Processing in Choral Repetition Training

• Nihongo Speech Trainer: A Pronunciation Training System for Japanese Sounds

• Standardized Evaluation Method of Pronunciation Teaching Based on Deep Learning

• End-to-End Word-Level Pronunciation Assessment with MASK Pre-training

• Training Japanese listeners to identify English /r/ and /l/. III. Long-term retention of new phonetic categories.

• Effectiveness of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) simulation course and skills retention for Japanese nurse practitioners

• Neural signatures of phonetic learning in adulthood: A magnetoencephalography study