Vocal Quality in Read Speech by English and French Speakers: Acoustic Comparison Before and After 12 Tandem Sessions

We explore vocal adaptation in L1 and L2 speech through acoustic measurement of vocal quality in read speech in French and English by 16 dyads (English and French-speaking students) engaged in tandem learning. The spectral slope is less negative and the smoothed cepstral prominence peak is higher in French for the English speakers after the tandem sessions. The convergence of the spectral slope in L2 French by the English speakers indicates more vocal accommodation after the sessions for them than their French counterparts. Many individual variations relate to certain speakers' plurilingualism and local occurrences of creaky voice. Language type and status influence vocal acoustic parameters after the tandem sessions. Voice quality contributes to communicative adaptation and accommodation phenomena in such a communication context fostering authentic L2 practice.