RESEARCH
In the CLR Phonetics Lab, our research explores the production, perception, and learning of speech, with a particular focus on articulatory phonetics, second language pronunciation, experimental methods, and regional variation in Japanese. We combine laboratory phonetics and fieldwork to better understand how speech is produced, processed, and acquired across languages. Some of tools we use include ultrasound, video, Praat acoustic software, and E-prime software. We have always taken an interest in studying the Aizu dialect of Japanese and trying to preserve it for future generations.
Articulatory Phonetics
This research area investigates how speech is physically produced, focusing on the coordination of articulators such as the tongue, jaw, and vocal tract. A central goal is to understand articulatory settings--the underlying postures and movement patterns that characterize different languages and speakers. Our work makes extensive use of instrumental methods such as ultrasound imaging and acoustic analysis to examine how articulatory gestures vary across languages, proficiency levels, and speaking conditions. This includes research on bilingual and multilingual speakers, as well as the biomechanical constraints shaping speech production.
L2 Pronunciation & Learning
This theme examines how second language (L2) learners acquire new sound systems, with a particular emphasis on English pronunciation by Japanese learners and multilingual speakers more broadly. Research in this area explores both production and perception, including learners' development of new language-specific articulatory settings, how pronunciation training can be enhanced through feedback, and differences in prosody (rhythm and intonation) across L1 and L2 speakers. The lab also investigates innovative teaching approaches, including visual feedback and technology-assisted learning.
Speech Perception
This research area focuses on how speech is perceived and processed, particularly in L2 contexts. Using controlled experimental methods, including reaction-time studies, we investigate how listeners discriminate sounds, process accented speech, and map phonetic input onto linguistic categories. This work bridges phonetics and psycholinguistics, providing insight into the relationship between perception and production, and how these processes develop with experience.
Aizu Dialect Studies
A distinctive focus of the lab is the phonetic and prosodic structure of regional Japanese dialects, especially those of the Aizu region. This research combines fieldwork and laboratory methods to investigate variation in intonation, prosodic structure, and the interaction between syntax and phonetics. Recent work also explores how dialects can be modeled and preserved using modern analytical techniques, contributing to both theoretical phonetics and regional language documentation.