Early L2 Learners and Phonology: Does Their Early Start Guarantee Nativelike Phonology?
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2016-06-15
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en
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It is often thought that the possibility for second language (L2) learners to achieve nativelike phonology is affected by age of onset (AO). That is, early learners will achieve nativelike phonology while late learners will not. This thesis attempted to answer the question whether it is indeed the case that an early start guarantees nativelike phonology. It did so by providing an overview of previous literature and studies which looked at the L2 phonology of L2 learners including heritage speakers. Results of these studies revealed, however, that an early start did not guarantee nativelike phonology, because some early learners had detectable foreign accents despite their early AO. Additional evidence came from studies that focused at the heritage language of heritage speakers which is thought to resemble a L2. These studies revealed that heritage speakers did not have nativelike phonology in heritage language either. Both the L2 and the heritage language thus seemed to not only be influenced by AO, but rather by a combination of AO and other factors such as amount of L2 input and use, identity and language transfer.
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Faculteit der Letteren