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SUMMARY:[Online talk] L2 phonological learning in adults: The role of lang
 uage background\, age of acquisition\, and exposure  - Dr Job Schepens (TU
  Dortmund)
DTSTART:20200430T153000Z
DTEND:20200430T170000Z
UID:TALK140584@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Julia Heine
DESCRIPTION:Adults' ability to acquire the phonology of new languages (L2 
 learning) is subject to –sometimes persistent– limitations (though the
 re is individual variability). One common explanation for these limitation
 s involves maturational effects\, such as reduced plasticity of the adult 
 brain. Another common explanation emphasizes the role of native language (
 L1) influence on L2 learning. Drawing on normed proficiency assessments of
  around 50\,000 L2 Dutch learners from 62 L1 backgrounds\, we investigate 
 the effects of L1-to-L2 similarity in phonology on L2 Dutch proficiency (m
 easured in terms of the number of new features of each new L2 sound). We d
 o so while simultaneously controlling for –among other variables—age o
 f acquisition\, length of exposure\, and their interactions with L1-to-L2 
 phonological similarity (via multilevel regression). We find that L2 profi
 ciency increases with younger age of acquisition\, longer exposure\, and i
 ncreasing L1-to-L2 phonological similarity. Additionally\, the effect of L
 1-to-L2 phonological similarity interacts with age of acquisition and leng
 th of exposure\, such that transfer from L1 to L2 a) becomes stronger the 
 later in life the L2 is acquired\, and b) weaker with increasing exposure 
 to the L2. That is\, we find that L1 has a continued influence on L2 phono
 logical learning. This influence is stronger when the learner had more exp
 erience with L1 (later age of acquisition of L2) and decreased as experien
 ce with L2 increases. Taken together\, these three properties of L2 learni
 ng support experienced-based accounts that emphasize the continued role of
  prior language experience in L2 learning\, and specifically\, the pivotal
  role of similarity-based transfer.
LOCATION:Online
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