Keywords

child–adult differences, cross-language similarity, second language, speech perception, speech production

Abstract

This study evaluated whether age effects on second language (L2) speech learning derive from changes in how the native language (L1) and L2 sound systems interact. According to the “interaction hypothesis” (IH), the older the L2 learner, the less likely the learner is able to establish new vowel categories needed for accurate L2 vowel production and perception because, with age, L1 vowel categories become more likely to perceptually encompass neighboring L2 vowels. These IH predictions were evaluated in two experiments involving 64 native Korean- and English-speaking children and adults. Experiment 1 determined, as predicted, that the Korean children were less likely than the Korean adults to perceive L2 vowels as instances of a single L1 vowel category. Experiment 2 showed that the Korean children surpassed the Korean adults in production of certain vowels but equaled them in vowel perception. These findings, which partially support the IH, are discussed in relation to L2 speech learning.

Original Publication Citation

Baker, W., Trofimovich, P., Flege, J. E., & Mack, M (2008). Child-adult differences in second-language phonological learning: The role of cross-language similarity. Language and Speech, 51, 317-342.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2008

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/8645

Publisher

Language and Speech

Language

English

College

Humanities

Department

Linguistics and English Language

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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