Factors Affecting Accent Acquisition: The Case of Russian Immigrants in Israel

A debate centers on whether the native accent is acquired early in life or whether it can be acquired at any time. This study investigated factors that may affect native accent acquisition in a second language. Participants in this study were 50 Russians who immigrated to Israel, 17 males and 33 females. Their age on arrival was 5 to 25 years. They were asked to fill out a questionnaire, read aloud a text in Hebrew, and speak spontaneously on any topic they chose. Three native Hebrew speakers judged the last two parts of the questionnaire. The results indicated that age of arrival in the host country was the strongest predictor of native accent acquisition whereas level of exposure to the native language proved not to be a good predictor. The results are discussed in light of these findings.