The incidence of nativelikeness in adult second language acquisition is a controversial issue SLA research. Although some researchers claim that any learner, regardless age acquisition, can attain nativelike levels (L2) proficiency, others hold attainment proficiency is, principle, impossible. discussion has traditionally been framed within the paradigm critical period for and guided by question whether constrained maturation brain. work presented this article be positioned among those...

Results from a number of recent studies suggest that nativelike adult second language (L2) learners possess high degree learning aptitude, the positive effects which may have compensated for negative critical period in these learners. According to same studies, child seem attain command L2 regardless or low has led researchers conclude this factor plays no role early acquisition. The present study investigates proficiency and aptitude 42 near-native speakers Swedish (i.e., individuals whom...

This article challenges a recent proposal for the theoretical interpretation of L1 and L2 interaction that results from abrupt change language environment in internationally adopted children. According to this (Pallier, Dehaene, Poline, LeBihan, Argenti, Depoux Mehler, 2003; Ventureyra, Pallier Yoo, 2004), such children experience total loss their L1, while, as adults, they exhibit nativelike ultimate attainment L2. These authors suggest what see allows resetting neural network normally...

Within the field of SLA, incidence nativelikeness in second language (L2) speakers has typically been explained as a function age acquisition. An alternative interpretation, however, is that L2 learners do not attain nativelike proficiency because first (L1) maintenance. This interpretation nevertheless remained mostly theoretical due to lack empirical evidence. study sets out address role L1 ultimate attainment by examining and 30 early Spanish–L2 Swedish bilinguals. Language was assessed...

Research has consistently shown there is a negative correlation between age of onset (AO) acquisition and ultimate attainment (UA) either pronunciation or grammar in second language (L2). A few studies have indeed reported nativelike behavior some postpuberty learners with respect to phonetics/phonology morphosyntax, result that sometimes been taken as evidence against the critical period hypothesis (CPH). However, employed wide range linguistic tests tasks, adult not exhibited L2...

This paper discusses research that has been carried out on maturational constraints for SLA, specifically the conceptualisation formulated in critical period hypothesis (CPH). Our review shows positions taken by researchers are very diverse, something we believe its basis a lack of explicit formulation and use insufficiently sensitive instruments. Researchers disagree whether all , only some or no learners can reach native‐like ultimate attainment second language. We conclude there is strong...

While language aptitude has been investigated actively within second research, there is a current dearth of research on the effects in cases attrition. The aim present investigation was to explore role for L1 proficiency speakers who experienced break with their setting prior puberty. Twenty-five Spanish—L2 Swedish bilinguals residing Sweden participated study, and 15 native Spanish living Chile were recruited as controls. measured by means grammaticality judgement test (GJT) data obtained...

Abstract It has recently been suggested that bilingualism, rather than age of acquisition, is what underlies less nativelike attainment in childhood L2 acquisition. Currently, however, the empirical evidence favor or against this interpretation remains scarce. The present study sets out to fill gap, implementing a novel factorial design which variables acquisition and bilingualism have fully crossed. Eighty speakers Swedish, who were either L1 monolinguals, simultaneous bilinguals,...

As part of a research project on the investigation second language (L2) ultimate attainment in 41 Spanish early and late near-native speakers L2 Swedish, present study reports voice onset time (VOT) analyses production Swedish word-initial voiceless stops, /p t k/. Voice is analyzed milliseconds as well percentages word duration, thereby accounting for speaking rate effects. The results revealed an overall age effect VOT production; however, this became salient statistically significant all...

This study deals with the development and recoverability of word-final codas in Chinese-Swedish interlanguage. The relation between consonant deletion vowel epenthesis is investigated from both a developmental perspective grammatical-functional one. Longitudinal, conversational data three Chinese beginner learners Swedish were analyzed. First, it shown that for these acquisition was U-shaped rather than linear such they exhibited relatively high accuracy rates at early stages, lower later...

Previous studies showed that vowel epenthesis of initial /sC(C)/ clusters in the L2 production L1 Spanish speakers is conditioned by several variable constraints, such as preceding environment, onset length, and sonority relations among members. This case study was designed to investigate whether patterns obtained from elicited speech also hold for conversational data. A longitudinal corpus spontaneous/natural 1 adult learner Swedish used. The confirmed most results previous research,...

This study examined the effects of age onset (AO) L2 acquisition on categorical perception voicing contrast in Swedish word-initial stops varying voice time (VOT). Three continua created basis natural word pairs with /p-b/, /t-d/, /k-/ initial position were presented to 41 Spanish early (AO < 12) and late > near-native speakers Swedish. Fifteen native served as controls. Categorizations influenced by AO listener status L1/L2 speaker, that learners deviated most from native-speaker...

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Abstract In most event-related potential (ERP) studies on the second language (L2) processing, native speaker (L1) control group’s grand average ERP pattern serves as ‘gold standard’ that L2 group has to reach be labeled ‘native-like’. This relies assumption is representative of all or individuals in a group. Recent research, however, shown there can considerable systematic qualitative variability between even coherent L1 samples, especially morphosyntactic processing. We discuss how these...

On the basis of their review studies, Mayberry and Kluender (2017) propose that human language learning ability becomes severely compromised if it is not developed in tandem with brain development early childhood, but functions more or less flawlessly, even adulthood, acquisition had at one time proceeded according to maturational timetable. therefore suggest critical period hypothesis (CPH) for unambiguously tied timing L1 acquisition, its relevance L2 clear, implication being...

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Journal Article Review. Second language acquisition and the critical period hypothesis. D Birdsong (ed) Get access N Abrahamsson Centre for Research on Bilingualism, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden E-mail: Niclas.Arahamsson@biling.su.se Search other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Applied Linguistics, Volume 20, Issue 4, December 1999, Pages 571–575, https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/20.4.571 Published: 01 1999