The present study investigates the effect of high variability phonetic training (HVPT) on the discrimination of second language (L2) vowel contrasts by adult speakers who live in a country where the L2 is dominant. The same subjects who participated in a previous discrimination task were trained in the discrimination of four L2 vowel contrasts which were relatively difficult for this population of learners. Both the post-test and the generalization test showed significant improvement in the discrimination of most vowel contrasts (both stressed and unstressed). The findings suggest that HVPT may facilitate the formation of robust L2 phonological representations even for learners who live and are educated in an L2-dominant environment, dissolving in that way the perceptual confusions which emerge from first language interference. Finally, important implications are made for the implementation of HVPT in L2 classrooms.

本研究调查了高变异性语音训练 (HVPT) 对居住在 L2 占主导地位的国家的成年说话者区分第二语言 (L2) 元音对比的影响。参与先前辨别任务的相同受试者接受了辨别四个 L2 元音对比的训练，这对这群学习者来说相对困难。后测和泛化测试都显示出对大多数元音对比（重读和非重读）的辨别有显着改善。研究结果表明，即使对于在 L2 占主导地位的环境中生活和接受教育的学习者来说，HVPT 也可能有助于形成稳健的 L2 语音表征，从而消除因第一语言干扰而出现的感知混乱。最后，