My research focuses on the acquisition of pronunciation features by second language learners. I am particularly interested in suprasegmental features, such as tone in Mandarin and pitch accent in Japanese, both of which are manifested through pitch manipulation, and have been proven to be challenging for learners. I explore materials for training these features, along with quantitative methods to analyze these features and compare them to native speakers' productions.
Publications
Zhou, A., & Olson, D. J. (2023). Quantitative methods for analyzing second language lexical tone production. Languages, 8(3), 209. https://doi.org/10.3390/languages8030209
Sheu, V., Weirick, J. D., & Zhou, A. (Eds.). (in press). Variation in Linguistics: Second language acquisition, discourse, studies, sociolinguistics, syntax. United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Hutchinson, A. E., Zhou, A., Seo, Y., & Dmitrieva, O. (2023). A comparison of acoustic convergence to an unfamiliar language and an unfamiliar accent in shadowed speech. In R. Skarnitzl, & J. Volín (Eds.), Proceedings of the 20th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. https://guarant.cz/icphs2023/889.pdf
Zhou, A., & Olson, D. J. (2023). The use of visual feedback to train L2 lexical tone: Evidence from Mandarin phonetic acquisition. In R. I. Thomson, T. M. Derwing, J. M. Levis & K. Hiebert (Eds.), Proceedings of the 13th Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Conference, St. Catharines, ON. https://doi.org/10.31274/psllt.15715
Zhou, A., Dmitrieva, O., & Olson, D. J. (2022). The effect of allophonic variability on L2 contrast perception: Evidence from perception of English vowels. JASA Express Letters, 2(12). https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0016602
In Progress
Zhou, A., & Olson, D. J. (in progress). The use of authentic materials for training L2 pitch accent in Japanese and L2 tone in Mandarin.
Zhou, A. (in progress). Testing the application of a computational modeling approach to pitch accent.
Zhou, A., & Olson, D. J. (in progress). Implementation of a quantitative comparison methodology for analyzing L1 and L2 pitch accent.
Zhou, A., & Olson, D. J. (2023). Quantitative methods for analyzing second language lexical tone production. Languages, 8(3), 209. https://doi.org/10.3390/languages8030209
Sheu, V., Weirick, J. D., & Zhou, A. (Eds.). (in press). Variation in Linguistics: Second language acquisition, discourse, studies, sociolinguistics, syntax. United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Hutchinson, A. E., Zhou, A., Seo, Y., & Dmitrieva, O. (2023). A comparison of acoustic convergence to an unfamiliar language and an unfamiliar accent in shadowed speech. In R. Skarnitzl, & J. Volín (Eds.), Proceedings of the 20th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. https://guarant.cz/icphs2023/889.pdf
Zhou, A., & Olson, D. J. (2023). The use of visual feedback to train L2 lexical tone: Evidence from Mandarin phonetic acquisition. In R. I. Thomson, T. M. Derwing, J. M. Levis & K. Hiebert (Eds.), Proceedings of the 13th Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Conference, St. Catharines, ON. https://doi.org/10.31274/psllt.15715
Zhou, A., Dmitrieva, O., & Olson, D. J. (2022). The effect of allophonic variability on L2 contrast perception: Evidence from perception of English vowels. JASA Express Letters, 2(12). https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0016602
In Progress
Zhou, A., & Olson, D. J. (in progress). The use of authentic materials for training L2 pitch accent in Japanese and L2 tone in Mandarin.
Zhou, A. (in progress). Testing the application of a computational modeling approach to pitch accent.
Zhou, A., & Olson, D. J. (in progress). Implementation of a quantitative comparison methodology for analyzing L1 and L2 pitch accent.
Conference Presentations
Zhou, A., & Olson, D. J. (2023). Analyzing second language tones: A comparative time-series methodology. Poster presented at Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Conference, September 9.
Hutchinson, A. E., Zhou, A., Seo, Y., & Dmitrieva, O. (2023). Acoustic convergence to an unfamiliar language and an unfamiliar accent in shadowed speech. Paper presented at 20th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, August 8.
Hutchinson, A. E., Zhou, A., Seo, Y., & Dmitrieva, O. (2023). Acoustic convergence of voicing when shadowing an unfamiliar language and a non-native accent. Poster presented at 184th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, May 11.
Zhou, A., & Dmitrieva, O. (2022). The perception of English vowels by native Korean and Mandarin speakers. Poster presented at 183rd Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, December 8.
Zhou, A., & Olson, D. J. (2022). The use of visual feedback to train L2 lexical tone: Evidence from L2 Mandarin phonetic acquisition. Paper presented at Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Conference (PSLLT), June 17.
Olson, D. J., & Tews*, A. (2021). Acquisition of second language phonetic features: Development of voiced intervocalic stops in L2 Spanish. Paper presented at Phonetics and Phonology in Europe, June 21.
Dmitrieva, O., Hutchinson, A., Jongman, A., Sereno, J. A., & Tews*, A. (2019). The effect of instructed second language learning on the acoustic properties of first language speech. Poster presented at Phonetics and Phonology in Europe, June 19.
Dmitrieva, O., Tews*, A., Sereno, J. A., & Jongman, A. (2017). Production of obstruent voicing by American learners of Russian. Poster presented at KU Linguistics 50th Anniversary, September 16.
*Alexis Zhou, née Tews
Zhou, A., & Olson, D. J. (2023). Analyzing second language tones: A comparative time-series methodology. Poster presented at Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Conference, September 9.
Hutchinson, A. E., Zhou, A., Seo, Y., & Dmitrieva, O. (2023). Acoustic convergence to an unfamiliar language and an unfamiliar accent in shadowed speech. Paper presented at 20th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, August 8.
Hutchinson, A. E., Zhou, A., Seo, Y., & Dmitrieva, O. (2023). Acoustic convergence of voicing when shadowing an unfamiliar language and a non-native accent. Poster presented at 184th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, May 11.
Zhou, A., & Dmitrieva, O. (2022). The perception of English vowels by native Korean and Mandarin speakers. Poster presented at 183rd Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, December 8.
Zhou, A., & Olson, D. J. (2022). The use of visual feedback to train L2 lexical tone: Evidence from L2 Mandarin phonetic acquisition. Paper presented at Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Conference (PSLLT), June 17.
Olson, D. J., & Tews*, A. (2021). Acquisition of second language phonetic features: Development of voiced intervocalic stops in L2 Spanish. Paper presented at Phonetics and Phonology in Europe, June 21.
Dmitrieva, O., Hutchinson, A., Jongman, A., Sereno, J. A., & Tews*, A. (2019). The effect of instructed second language learning on the acoustic properties of first language speech. Poster presented at Phonetics and Phonology in Europe, June 19.
Dmitrieva, O., Tews*, A., Sereno, J. A., & Jongman, A. (2017). Production of obstruent voicing by American learners of Russian. Poster presented at KU Linguistics 50th Anniversary, September 16.
*Alexis Zhou, née Tews