The effect of feedback and practice on the acquisition of novel speech behaviors

This study examined the effect of manipulating several parameters of motor learning theory on participants' phonetic acquisition and retention of utterances in a foreign language (Korean).

Thirty-two native English-speaking participants naïve to the Korean language were each given 10 Korean sentences to practice and learn. The independent variables in the study were the number of practice trials and the feedback schedule. The participants listened to sentences delivered by a native speaker and received feedback according to the schedule. Participant responses were then judged by a panel of native Korean speakers in terms of their intelligibility, naturalness, and precision.

The combination of 20% feedback and 100 practice trials was more effective than other combinations of feedback and practice trial schedule for the retention of novel phonetic productions of Korean phrases both 1 day after training and 1 week later.

These findings are in agreement with previously reported applications of motor learning-guided principles on the acquisition of motoric skills. These findings may have direct implications for both second-language learning and the treatment of neuromotor speech disorders such as apraxia of speech.