The Influence of the Chinese Native Language on the Acquisition of Italian Vowel Pronunciation: An experimental study

This study investigates vowel pronunciation errors in Italian by native Mandarin Chinese speakers, with a focus on the impact of first language (L1) transfer. Using speech data collected through controlled experiments, the study employs Praat software to analyze formant frequencies (F1, F2) and vowel duration. The acoustic features of Italian vowels produced by Mandarin speakers are systematically compared with those of their native Mandarin vowels. Pearson correlation analysis and t-tests are used to assess within-group and between-group variations, aiming to quantify the influence of L1 on second language (L2) vowel acquisition. The results reveal a significant and systematic negative transfer from Mandarin to Italian, particularly in the production of mid and low vowels. Notably, errors in low vowel production may originate from more than one L1 phonetic influence. Based on the findings, the study also discusses additional factors affecting L2 phonological acquisition and proposes practical teaching strategies to improve Italian vowel pronunciation among Mandarin-speaking learners.