Decreased coda [l] velarization among speakers of L2 Spanish with the manipulation of specific variables

This study examines the L2 acoustic production of the non-velarized coda lateral liquid of Spanish, incorporating speech perception exercises outside the classroom and also by controlling for other variables. Participants were all L1 speakers of English, and students of ‘Intermediate Spanish Conversation’ at Penn State University, USA. Tasks targeting coda [l] were completed by all subject groups. Preliminary analysis of phonetic data from experimental groups receiving both explicit instruction and online perceptual input show significant increase in target-like production of less velarized [l] in their L2 Spanish, apart from more accurate discrimination between L1 and L2 sounds.