Linguistics and English Language

Bilingualism and Developmental Linguistics research group

Speaker: Tim Laméris, University of Cambridge

Title: Language change in Japanese-English bilingual returnee children over the course of five years: evidence from accent rating

Abstract: In this talk, I will discuss the process of second language attrition and heritage/native language re-exposure through an examination of global accent in Japanese-English bilingual returnee children (i.e., migrant children who returned to their first language environment after living some years in a second language environment) by using longitudinal data collected over the course of five years. The findings show an effect of attrition (i.e., increase in foreign-accentedness) in English after five years of return to Japan, and a rapid development (decrease in foreign-accentedness) in Japanese after a year of return. Additionally, we find modulatory effects of age of L2 onset and exposure on the changes in foreign-accentedness over time, suggesting that these factors are crucial in maintaining and developing the global accents of bilingual children in migrant context.

Contact

Please contact Aya Awwad or Chase Yang to find out specific dates for this semester and/or to be added to the mailing list. Please specify your preference of bilingualism or developmental linguistics mailing lists. We will send the information to both mailing lists.

Dec 05 2022 -

Bilingualism and Developmental Linguistics research group

2022-12-05: Language change in Japanese-English bilingual returnee children over the course of five years: evidence from accent rating

Room 7.01, Dugald Stewart Building, 3 Charles Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9AD