In this paper we present a self-organizing neural network model of bilingual lexical development. We focus on how the representational structure of the bilingual lexicon can emerge, develop, and change as a function of the learning history. Our results show that (1) distinct representations for the two lexicons can develop in our network during simultaneous acquisition, (2) the representational...

Following an extensive overview of the subject, this study explores the relationships between secondlanguage (L2) explicit/implicit knowledge sources, embedded in the declarative/procedural memory systems, and L2 working memory (WM) capacity. It further examines the relationships between L2 reading comprehension and L2 WM capacity as well as those between L2 reading comprehension and L2 explici...

Much corpus-linguistic research is concerned with the development of particular parameters over time. For example, in L1/L2 acquisition/learning, the syntactic development of a child/learner is approximated on the basis of how mean lengths of utterances (MLU), t-unit-based measures, or IPSyn values change over time (cf. Shirai and Andersen 1995 or Ortega 2003). Similarly, in historical linguist...

50 years of speech perception research provide a rich literature on crossand second language (L2) perception of stop consonant contrasts such as /p b/, /t d/, and /k g/ which differ systematically in the relative timing of oral stop release and the onset of vocal fold vibration (voice onset time: VOT). This research has focused primarily on two observations: 1) that nonnative listeners automati...

In the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA), the role of transfer has been theorized and studied to account for the influence of the native language on an interlanguage. However, stemming from behaviorist mentality, the concept of transfer has become widely associated with the direct transfer of habits and fails to take into consideration other cross-linguistic influences (CLI) that shape...

Previous research has demonstrated that age of acquisition (AOA) plays an important role in L2 phonological acquisition. However, it is not clear why such AOA effects occur. Researchers have hypothesized that these effects may be explained by social (such as identification with L1/L2 culture), cognitive (ability to imitate, working and phonological memory capacity), and experiential (length of ...

Assimilatory phonetic drift in L1 has been shown to occur in early second language learners when separate L2 categories have not been established. The direction and likelihood of drift is affected by degree of L1:L2 difference [2], and the need to maintain L1 distinctions [10]. We assessed the impact of explicit L2 phonetic training on L1:L2 interaction when novel L2 sounds could lead to a more...

This study explores the interpretation of null and overt object pronouns by Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP) bidialectal bilinguals. Object pronouns are a particularly good domain to examine, given that, particularly with respect to null objects, the underlying syntax as well as the semantic and discourse constraints that regulate their distributions in the two varieties a...

Until recently, research on language attitudes focused mainly relating to speakers’ L1. However, with the increase in interest multilingualism a globalised world, there has been renewed L2 speakers. This article focuses these issues context of migration: how associated migrants’ L1 and may affect acquisition process. The two groups (Polish Italian) are compared see if, case speakers learning di...