Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

L1 Phonetic Transfer in French-Accented English: A Review of Segmental and Prosodic Features

Leyan LiuNanjing University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

In the context of the normalization of international communication and the widespread teaching of second foreign languages, the causes of English accents in native French speakers have become a key research area in the field of phonetics. Existing studies show that mother tongue transfer, as the core cause of second-language accent formation, is closely linked to specific phonetic differences between English and French. This study, based on a review paradigm, systematically outlines the core phonetic differences between French and English in terms of vowels, consonants, and stress-rhythm systems. It integrates relevant findings from existing empirical research on the negative transfer of mother tongue phonetic habits and attempts to provide theoretical support for second-language phonetic instruction. The goal is to help optimize English pronunciation training programs for native French speakers, improve the research framework on cross-linguistic phonetic transfer, and offer directions for future empirical research.

Keywords: Mother tongue transfer; French-accented English; Phonetic differences; Second language phonetic acquisition; Prosodic transfer
Published: March 24, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2026.BJ32300
Volume: CHR Vol.105
pp. 63-70
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