Mandarin T3 Production by Chinese and Japanese Native Speakers

This study examines the production of Mandarin T3 by native Japanese and Chinese speakers, focusing on the F0 and the acoustic correlate of voice quality (H1*-H2*). Previous research showed the challenges that native Japanese speakers face in producing Mandarin tones, particularly the frequent mispronunciation of T3 as T2. This study aims to bridge the gap in research concerning the acquisition of Mandarin tones by native Japanese speakers, with a particular emphasis on the influence of adjacent tones on T3's acoustic features. The results reveal significant differences in T3 production between the two groups, the phonation style, and the influence of adjacent tones mainly contributing to the challenges Japanese learners face. This study underscores the need for teaching strategies that address the phonetic features of Mandarin tones, including the introduction of creaky voice characteristics to improve T3 pronunciation for Japanese learners.