Hul’q’umi’num’ listening quizzes: Speech perception in a language revitalization classroom context

Maida Percival; H. Henny Yeung; Sonya Bird; Quaysultunaat (Randeana) Jack

doi:10.1075/jslp.25001.per

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oa Hul’q’umi’num’ listening quizzes

Speech perception in a language revitalization classroom context
Author(s): Maida Percival^1,2, H. Henny Yeung³, Sonya Bird⁴ and Quaysultunaat (Randeana) Jack³
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¹ University of Toronto, Canada ² University of Oxford, UK ³ Simon Fraser University, Canada ⁴ University of Victoria, Canada
Source: Journal of Second Language Pronunciation
Available online: 03 November 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/jslp.25001.per
- Received: 22 Dec 2024
- Accepted: 23 Sept 2025
- Version of Record published : 03 Nov 2025

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss a set of 60 listening quizzes, created to support adult learners of Hul’q’umi’num’ (Coast Salish) in fine-tuning their listening and speaking skills. Hul’q’umi’num’ has a rich consonant inventory, including many sounds not found in learners’ L1 (English). The goal of the quizzes was twofold: provide learners with opportunities to practice hearing these sounds and, at the same time, inform us about the features of Hul’q’umi’num’ L2 speech perception. Findings showed which sounds were particularly easy or challenging, laying the foundation for creating more targeted resources to better aid sound acquisition among Hul’q’umi’num’ learners. Evidence of improvement in perceptual ability after taking the quizzes was also found. This work contributes to diversifying scientific approaches to second language acquisition by showing how speech perception research and pedagogy can be combined in an Indigenous language revitalization context.

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