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Voice and Mirroring in L2 Pronunciation Instruction presents an approach to teaching pronunciation which aims for learners to internalize the “voices” (complexes of linguistic and non-linguistic features that embody particular speakers’ emotion, social stance, and group identification) of proficient speakers of the second language (L2). Beginning with a review of “bottom-up” and “top-down” approaches to second language acquisition (SLA) research and pronunciation teaching, the authors present previously published and new findings in interlanguage phonology and variationist approaches to SLA showing the powerful impact of sociolinguistic context on L2 pronunciation. On the basis of this review, the authors argue that a top-down approach which begins with social context is preferable in both the research and teaching of L2 pronunciation. They highlight the Mirroring Project as one such approach that includes the social factors impacting L2 pronunciation, such as interlocutor, empathy, and nonverbal elements. With accompanying instructional activities that have been used in a variety of teaching and learning settings in the U.S., the authors demonstrate how this project can help language learners modify their L2 pronunciation patterns and improve their intelligibility as they internalize and channel the voices of speakers they have selected as models.

The audience for the volume includes language teachers, particularly those desiring to use top-down pedagogical approaches like the Mirroring Project to improve learners’ intelligibility, and academic researchers interested in studying the way adults can acquire second language phonology by holistically adopting and channeling the voices of speakers they admire. The book is also of potential interest to language teacher educators, curriculum developers, and textbook writers.

Contents
Chapter 1
Introduction to Voice and Mirroring in L2 Pronunciation Instruction

Chapter 2
Bottom-Up and Top-Down Theories of Second-Language Acquisition 

Chapter 3
Top-Down Research on Interlanguage Phonology

Chapter 4
Research on the Impact of Internalized Voices on Interlanguage Phonology 

Chapter 5
Top-Down Pronunciation Pedagogies with a Focus on Voice and Intelligibility 

Chapter 6
The Mirroring Project [+]92-132

Conclusion 

Few studies have analyzed the writing features of second language (L2) alongside heritage language (HL) learners of Spanish. Focusing on the development of writing complexity, we collected data from students at the beginning and at the end of a composition sequence. Comparing the groups at the outset revealed HL students’ greater mood complexity. After 14 weeks, both groups improved in tense complexity, mean essay length, and lexical sophistication. Our findings suggest that, given sufficient time, both HL and L2 students can progress in similar ways in at least some measures of linguistic complexity. Nevertheless, they might gain from instruction that facilitates new and diverse vocabulary, and the construction of longer sentences. L2 students specifically would benefit from greater emphasis on the subjunctive. Our study supports the claim that achieving writing complexity takes time and comes in stages, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of L2 and HL writing development.

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Pocos estudios analizaron las características de la escritura en aprendices de español como segunda lengua (L2) junto a hablantes de herencia (HH). Enfocándonos en el desarrollo de la complejidad escrita, recabamos datos al principio y al final de una secuencia de composición. Al comparar los grupos al comienzo del curso observamos una mayor complejidad de modo verbal en los HH. Después de 14 semanas, los dos grupos mejoraron en el tiempo verbal, largo del ensayo y sofisticación léxica, lo que demuestra que progresan de forma similar en algunas medidas. No obstante, hay áreas que podrían mejorarse: un mayor énfasis en vocabulario nuevo y diverso, y fomentar el largo de las oraciones; para los L2 además se recomienda más práctica del subjuntivo. Esta investigación apoya la idea de que la complejidad escrita requiere tiempo y ocurre en etapas, contribuyendo a nuestro conocimiento de las trayectorias de desarrollo escrito en estos grupos.