scholarly journals The relevance of first language attrition to theories of bilingual development

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 637-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika S. Schmid ◽  
Barbara Köpke
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Native Language ◽  
First Language ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
The Other ◽  
Language Attrition ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
First Language Attrition ◽  
Bilingual Development

Abstract Research on second language acquisition and bilingual development strongly suggests that when a previously monolingual speaker becomes multilingual, the different languages do not exist in isolation: they are closely linked, dependent on each other, and there is constant interaction between these different knowledge systems. Theoretical frameworks of bilingual development acknowledge this insofar as they usually draw heavily on evidence of how the native language influences subsequent languages, and how and to what degree this influence can eventually be overcome. The fact that such crosslinguistic transfer is not a one-way street, and that the native language is similarly influenced by later learned languages, on the other hand, is often disregarded. We review the evidence on how later learned languages can re-shape the L1 in the immediate and the longer term and demonstrate how such phenomena may be used to inform, challenge and validate theoretical approaches of bilingual development.

scholarly journals Inhibiting Your Native Language

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Levy ◽  
Nathan D. McVeigh ◽  
Alejandra Marful ◽  
Michael C. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Native Language ◽  
First Language ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Language Attrition ◽  
First Language Attrition ◽  
Probe Test ◽  
Induced Forgetting ◽  
Phonological Retrieval

After immersion in a foreign language, speakers often have difficulty retrieving native-language words—a phenomenon known as first-language attrition. We propose that first-language attrition arises in part from the suppression of native-language phonology during second-language use, and thus is a case of phonological retrieval-induced forgetting. In two experiments, we investigated this hypothesis by having native English speakers name visual objects in a language they were learning (Spanish). Repeatedly naming the objects in Spanish reduced the accessibility of the corresponding English words, as measured by an independent-probe test of inhibition. The results establish that the phonology of the words was inhibited, as access to the concepts underlying the presented objects was facilitated, not impaired. More asymmetry between English and Spanish fluency was associated with more inhibition for native-language words. This result supports the idea that inhibition plays a functional role in overcoming interference during the early stages of second-language acquisition.

Perceived foreign accent in first language attrition and second language acquisition: The impact of age of acquisition and bilingualism—ERRATUM

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 417-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
HOLGER HOPP ◽  
MONIKA S. SCHMID
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Open Access ◽  
First Language ◽  
Age Of Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Accent ◽  
Language Attrition ◽  
First Language Attrition ◽  
The Impact

The open access copyright line contained within this page was not included in the original FirstView article or the print article contained within this issue. We sincerely regret these errors and any problems they may have caused.

The regression hypothesis as a framework for first language attrition

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
MEREL KEIJZER
Keyword(s):  
Systems Theory ◽  
Dynamic Systems ◽  
First Language ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
The Other ◽  
Dynamic Systems Theory ◽  
Language Attrition ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
First Language Attrition

In an attempt to explain first language attrition in emigrant populations, this paper investigates the explanatory power of a framework that has – until now – received little attention: the regression hypothesis (Jakobson, 1941). This hypothesis predicts that the order of attrition is the reverse of the order of acquisition. The regression hypothesis was tested in relation to the loss of morphology and syntax in Dutch immigrants in Anglophone Canada. Evidence in favor of regression was found, but mainly in the morphological domain. Syntax, on the other hand, was mostly characterized by L2 influences from English. As it is problematic to treat regression as a theory in its own right, these findings are then explained in the light of both generative and usage-based approaches, as well as the more recent Dynamic Systems Theory.

Singing a different tune in your native language: first language attrition of prosody

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther de Leeuw ◽  
Ineke Mennen ◽  
James M. Scobbie
Keyword(s):  
Native Language ◽  
First Language ◽  
Language Attrition ◽  
First Language Attrition

First language attrition without second language acquisition

2015 ◽  
Vol 166 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Batia Laufer ◽  
Liubov Baladzhaeva
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
First Language ◽  
Language Attrition ◽  
L2 Proficiency ◽  
Russian Immigrants ◽  
First Language Attrition

We investigate whether Russian immigrants in Israel with little or no knowledge of Hebrew (L2) experience attrition of Russian (L1). We compared immigrants with no knowledge of Hebrew (−Hebrew), immigrants who knew Hebrew (+Hebrew), and monolingual controls on correctness judgment of collocations and of complex grammatical constructions. On collocations, the −Hebrew immigrants performed similarly to the +Hebrew immigrants. On grammatical constructions, they performed worse. Results of grammatical constructions correlated positively with Hebrew proficiency and usage. We conclude that immigrants with no L2 knowledge can experience just as much, or even more, attrition of L1 as immigrants with L2 knowledge. Moreover, higher L2 proficiency may positively affect L1 maintenance.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document