Which factor is suggested to ease pronunciation differences between L1 and L2?

Which factor is suggested to ease pronunciation differences between L1 and L2?

• A. The closer the phonologies of L1 and L2
• B. The more similar syntax
• C. The greater lexical similarity
• D. The more irregular orthography

Answer: (A)

How closely the sound system (phonology) of your first language matches the second language shapes how easily you can pronounce new sounds. When L1 and L2 share many phonemes, similar articulation habits, and comparable sound patterns, you can map L2 sounds onto familiar articulatory moves more naturally. That reduces the amount of new motor learning you have to do, lowers the likelihood of substituting unfamiliar L2 sounds with familiar L1 sounds, and helps you approximate target pronunciations more accurately. In short, having closer phonologies means less adjustment is needed in how your mouth, lips, and tongue move to produce L2 sounds. While syntax, lexical similarity, or orthography can influence other aspects of language learning, they don’t directly ease the process of producing pronunciation differences.

How closely the sound system (phonology) of your first language matches the second language shapes how easily you can pronounce new sounds. When L1 and L2 share many phonemes, similar articulation habits, and comparable sound patterns, you can map L2 sounds onto familiar articulatory moves more naturally. That reduces the amount of new motor learning you have to do, lowers the likelihood of substituting unfamiliar L2 sounds with familiar L1 sounds, and helps you approximate target pronunciations more accurately. In short, having closer phonologies means less adjustment is needed in how your mouth, lips, and tongue move to produce L2 sounds.

While syntax, lexical similarity, or orthography can influence other aspects of language learning, they don’t directly ease the process of producing pronunciation differences.