Embedded Files
Rachel Hayes-Harb
Rachel Hayes-Harb
Rachel Hayes-Harb is a Professor of Linguistics. Her scholarship focuses on a variety of phenomena related to the acquisition of the sound systems of new languages by adult learners, specifically the development of sound inventories and the sound structure of words. Her research typically involves experimental investigations of the perception of new sounds and words, and the influence of various types of linguistic experience on adults’ linguistic development. She co-directs the Speech Acquisition Lab, where she collaborates with undergraduate, graduate student, and post-doctoral researchers.
Rethinking “native speakerhood” in pronunciation research
Rethinking “native speakerhood” in pronunciation research
Individuals hold beliefs about language and language users that impact their everyday language use. In this talk, I will present findings from a research program that examines how beliefs about so-called “native speakerhood” shape speech processing and pronunciation learning. Then I will discuss ways in which “native speaker” ideology shapes pronunciation research itself, with important consequences for the quality, reproducibility, and impact of our work. I will conclude by calling on our field to abandon “native speakerhood” ideology in favor of a more nuanced and scientifically sound approach to characterizing the language backgrounds and practices of individuals and communities.
Amanda Huensch
Amanda Huensch
Amanda Huensch is Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research examines L2 speech development in and outside of the classroom with a particular focus on fluency development, L2 pronunciation learning, and the pronunciation pedagogy practices of language instructors. She has twice received the IRIS Replication Award, and her most recent work is published in Language Learning, Studies in Second Language Acquisition, and TESOL Quarterly. She is currently Associate Editor for Open Science of Applied Psycholinguistics and The Modern Language Journal and former Reviews Editor for the Journal of Second Language Pronunciation.
The State of Transparency and Openness in L2 Pronunciation Research: Accomplishments, Barriers, and Guidelines for Improvement
The State of Transparency and Openness in L2 Pronunciation Research: Accomplishments, Barriers, and Guidelines for Improvement
Transparency as a pillar of open science entails making all aspects of the research process open to public scrutiny and is a prerequisite for evaluating the credibility of scientific claims. Practices like materials/data sharing and preregistration can not only improve the reproducibility and replicability of our work but have the potential to speed up scientific discovery. Now fifteen years since the launch of repositories like IRIS and OSF, the field of L2 pronunciation would benefit from taking stock of and reflecting on its own practices. In this talk, I begin with a brief overview summarizing the advantages of and perceived barriers to adopting transparency and openness practices. I then report on a study examining these practices in L2 pronunciation research, highlighting our accomplishments to date and identifying future directions for improvement. I end by proposing field-specific guidelines and offering concrete suggestions for making our research (even) more transparent and open.
PSLLT Committee contact: psllt@iastate.edu
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse