Analyzing the kinematics of speech: Improving English language proficiency through articulation and movement patterns
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of improving articulatory kinematics and body movement patterns on English language proficiency among learners, focusing on the integration of speech articulation and non-verbal communication. The research uses advanced technologies such as motion capture and electromagnetic articulography (EMA) to explore how targeted kinematic feedback and movement-based training enhance pronunciation, fluency, and overall communicative competence. A total of 67 participants, with varying levels of English proficiency, underwent a four-week intervention designed to improve articulation through kinematic visualization and refine non-verbal communication through gesture training. The results indicated significant improvements in key articulatory metrics, including a 12.67% increase in tongue velocity and a 16.71% improvement in lip displacement, though these changes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Pronunciation accuracy improved notably, with F1 and F2 formant frequencies showing statistically significant reductions for vowels such as /æ/ (p = 0.024) and /iː/ (p = 0.005). The study also found that speech fluency increased significantly, with participants showing a 14.50% increase in speech rate (p = 0.008) and a 27.23% reduction in pause frequency (p = 0.011). Non-verbal communication metrics also improved, with gesture frequency increasing by 40.49% (p = 0.013) and gesture-speech synchronization improving by 25.98% (p = 0.028). Additionally, strong correlations were found between kinematic improvements and overall language proficiency, with tongue velocity (r = 0.72, p = 0.002) and pronunciation accuracy (r = 0.80, p = 0.0005) exhibiting the highest correlations.
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