Dynamics in cross-linguistic influence
Evidence from VOT development of Mandarin-English bilingual learners of L3 Spanish
With the aim of uncovering the dynamics
of cross-linguistic influence (CLI), the present
study investigates the production of word-initial stops by
L1 Mandarin-L2 English
bilinguals learning L3 Spanish over
the course of a semester. For this purpose, six Spanish
majors at a university in Beijing, China (two 2nd semester,
two 4th semester and two 6th semester) were recorded reading
word lists containing voiced and voiceless stop
consonants in Mandarin, English and Spanish. Stop tokens
were coded for voice onset
time (VOT). Individual plots revealed different
patterns for voiced and voiceless stops; they also detected
trends of both progressive
and regressive CLI in VOT
with variation among and within learners. Findings support
the hypothesis that CLI operates
property by property and is sensitive to the
learning of a phonological feature as
well as to a learner’s proficiency level. Results are
discussed within the Complex Dynamic System Theory (CDST)
framework.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Background
- 2.1Models of CLI in L3 development
- 2.2L3 phonological acquisition
- 2.3Target property: VOT in Mandarin, English and Spanish
- 2.4The current study
- 3.Methods
- 3.1Participants
- 3.2Instruments
- 3.3Procedure
- 3.4Data coding and analysis
- 4.Results
- 4.1Voiceless stops
- 4.1.1What are trends of progressive and regressive CLI in L1-L2-L3 VOT as a function of
learners’ proficiency level (2nd, 4th and 6th –
semester)?
- 4.1.2Are there changes in the trends of progressive and regressive
CLI in L1-L2-L3 VOT during the course of three
months?
- 4.2Voiced stops
- 4.2.1What are trends of progressive and regressive
CLI in
L1-L2-L3 VOT as a
function of learners’ proficiency level (2nd, 4th
and 6th – semester)?
- 4.2.2Are there changes in the trends of progressive and regressive
CLI in
L1-L2-L3 VOT during the course of three
months?
- 4.3Is CLI
different for voiced versus voiceless stop VOTs?
- 5.Discussion
- 6.Conclusion
-
Notes
-
References
-
Appendix
References (88)
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