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. 2025 Apr;41(2):367-396.
doi: 10.1177/02676583241249348. Epub 2024 May 23.

The effects of incidental learning and input frequency on the perception of non-native speech

Andrew H Lee  1 , Jackie S Lloyd  1
Affiliations

The effects of incidental learning and input frequency on the perception of non-native speech

Andrew H Lee et al. Second Lang Res. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

The current study investigated the extent to which naive listeners could incidentally acquire non-native phonemic contrasts and the degree to which the frequency of exposure to the target phonemes affects their learning. A total of 100 English speakers were assigned to the following conditions: (1) 0-occurrence; (2) 2-occurrence; (3) 10-occurrence; (4) 20-occurrence; or (5) 30-occurrence. The participants watched a video that provided instruction on counting numbers in Korean while incidentally exposing them to various repetitions of the target phonemes. All participants completed a pretest, an immediate posttest, and a delayed posttest, each comprising an AX discrimination task. The effects of incidental exposure were found only in the 10-occurrence condition, in both the immediate posttest and the delayed posttest. While the current study demonstrates the overall efficacy of incidental exposure on the perception of non-native speech, it also highlights the important role that selective attention plays in language learning.

Keywords: Korean three-way stops; incidental learning; instructed L2 speech perception.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Worksheet on Korean numbers.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Mean dʹ scores by phonemic contrast and by condition at the time of each testing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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