L2 Speech Perception and Production in the Globalized World

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a call for proposals for a Special Issue of Languages titled " L2 Speech Perception and Production in the Globalized World." This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge research in the field of second language (L2) speech perception and production, with a particular focus on L2 accentedness, intelligibility, comprehensibility and associated L2 oral assessment, language attitudes and stereotyping issues.

The primary focus of this Special Issue is to explore recent advances in L2 speech perception and production research and their implications for second language acquisition and teaching. We encourage the submission of high-quality research papers that contribute to our understanding of L2 speech perception and production processes, as well as their pedagogical implications.

Some of the possible topics for the Special Issues submissions are listed below:

•    The role of accentedness, comprehensibility, and/or intelligibility in L2 speech perception;
•    The effect of accent familiarity in L2 speech perception;
•    The relationship between L2 speech production and other linguistic skills (e.g., pragmatics);
•    Corpus-based approaches to the study of L2 speech perception and/or production;
•    The role of individual differences, such as language aptitude or working memory, in L2 speech perception and production outcomes;
•    The effectiveness of instructional interventions in improving L2 speech perception and/or production, including pronunciation-focused teaching methods or computer-assisted pronunciation training;
•    The role of identity construction or language attitudes, in L2 speech perception. 

This Special Issue aims to build upon and supplement the existing literature in the field of L2 speech perception and production. We seek to highlight current research trends and novel perspectives that deepen our understanding of L2 speech development and its pedagogical implications. By examining these specific topics, we aim to contribute to ongoing discussions and debates in the field, offering new insights into effective strategies for improving L2 learners' oral communication skills.

Tentative Completion Schedule
Abstract Submission Deadline: 15 April 2024
Notification of Abstract Acceptance: 15 May 2024
Full Manuscript Deadline: 20 December 2024

We request that interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 400–600 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send your abstract to the Guest Editors at okim.kang@nau.edu and masha@nau.edu or to the Languages editorial office at languages@mdpi.com. The abstracts will be reviewed by the guest editors to ensure a proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Upon acceptance, full manuscripts will undergo a double-blind peer-review process.

We look forward to receiving your proposals and contributions to this exciting Special Issue. Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Prof. Dr. Okim Kang
Dr. Maria Kostromitina
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Languages is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.