An investigation of the production of ejectives by native (L1) and second (L2) language speakers of Q'eqchi' Mayan

• Study sheds light on the production of voiceless and ejective stops in Q'eqchi'.
• Study employs a unique group of L1 English speakers as L2 Q'eqchi' learners.
• Study shows that non-native speakers can acquire ejectives accurately.
• Study allows for comparison and testing of three different L2 acquisition models.
• Study results provide insights into L2 acquisition and phonological learning.

This study examines the production of voiceless unaspirated stops and ejective stops by native (L1) and second language (L2) speakers of Q'eqchi' to determine (1) whether there were acoustic differences (in voice onset time and burst duration) between voiceless unaspirated stops and ejective stops and (2) whether L2 speakers were more accurate at producing phones that are similar to the native language (voiceless unaspirated stops) than those that are different (ejective stops). Acoustic analyses of the stops produced by the ten L1 and thirteen L2 Q'eqchi' speakers revealed (1) that L1 speakers make a distinction in voice onset time and at times in burst duration in ejective versus voiceless unaspirated stops, (2) L2 speakers can produce a difference between ejective and voiceless unaspirated stops and (3) L2 speakers are more accurate at producing ejective than voiceless unaspirated stops. These results suggest that L2 speakers are actually less accurate at producing L2 phones that are similar versus less similar to native language phones. Results are discussed in light of current theories of L2 speech learning.