Second Language Acquisition of Phonology

Spring 2004

(Sommersemester 2004: 20.April-24.July.2004)

University of Konstanz

 

 

Instructor:        Dr. Baris Kabak

Time:               Tuesdays, 14:00-16:00 pm.

Place:              C422

Office:              H-140

Office Phone:  4758

E-mail:             Baris.Kabak@uni-konstanz.de

Course URL:     http://ling.uni-konstanz.de/pages/home/kabak/SLA/description.htm

Office Hours:    Wednesdays, 11:30-12:30.

 

Quick Links:

Lecture Notes

Guidelines for article critique

Recording Equipment

Guidelines for research proposal

 

 

I. Course Description:

 

The acquisition of second language (L2) phonology involves a number of factors that are intermingled with the phonological system of the target language and that of the learner’s first language (L1). Furthermore, L2 phonological development shows some patterns that are reflective of certain universal principles of language. Studying such interplay of factors not only helps us look at phonology from a psycholinguistic viewpoint and understand the nature of phonological representations, but also provides us with an empirical tool to evaluate current theories of phonology. In this class, we will discuss current theories of L2 phonological acquisition with a particular emphasis on cross-linguistic research on the acquisition of L2 phonological contrasts and syllable structure. A number of experimental studies covering a range of issues in L2 phonology will be examined. The main areas of focus will be the influence of L1 phonological system on L2 speech perception, and the role of Universal Grammar and markedness constraints in L2 phonology. This class will largely be discussion-based. Therefore, students are expected to actively participate in the discussion of readings. Each student will lead the discussion of an article of their own choice, and write a paper at the end.

 

The reading list has been created in such a way that it covers recent articles on the notion of segment in L2 phonology in the literature.

 

The topics we will cover in the course of the semester include but are not restricted to:

 

  • The Contrastive Analysis and the Markedness Differential Hypotheses
  • The role of L1 Phonological System (phonological contrasts, rules, constraints, suprasegmental phenomena, etc.) in the development of L2 phonology.
  • Universal Grammar and Interlanguage in L2 phonology
  • Perception of L2 contrasts
  • Syllable Structure Restrictions on L2 speech perception

 

II. Prerequisites:

 

Proseminar in Phonology

Open seats: 15

 

III. Grading (subject to change):

 

Attendance and Participation:    10%

Group Project:                           20%

Article Critique:                          30%

Research Proposal:                    40%

 

IV. Requirements (subject to change):

 

1. Group Project (Oral presentation; 20 minutes)

 

2. Attendance and Participation:

Attendance does not just mean "physical presence" in the classroom. Your active participation in class discussions is essential. You are expected to come to class having read the assigned article(s). You should feel free to be critical about the readings and ask questions.

 

3. Article critique (8-10 pages, in English).  

 

4. Research Proposal (8-10 pages, in English)

 

V. Schedule (20.04-27.07)

 

WEEK

DATE

TOPIC / READINGS/ NOTES

Week 1

20.04.2004

Introduction; Eckman (1977) 

Week 2

27.04.2004

Eckman (1981)

Week 3

04.05.2004

Flege (1995)

Week 4

11.05.2004

Best (1995)

Week 5

18.05.2004

Brown (1998)

Week 6

25.05.2004

Broselow, Chen &Wang (1988)

Week 7

01.06.2004

Eckman, Elreyes & Iverson (2003)

Week 8

08.06.2004

continued

Week 9

15.06.2004

Pater (2003)

Week 10

22.06.2004

Aoyama (2003)

Week 11

29.06.2004

continued

Week 12

06.07.2004

Dupoux et (1999)

Article Critique Due!!

Week 13

13.07.2004

Kabak (2003); Kabak & Idsardi (2003)

Week 14

20.07.2004

Dupoux et al. (1997)

 

15.09.2004

Research Proposal Due!!

 
 
VI. Bibliography (all readings are available at the library reserve room ( Semesterapparate))
 
Aoyama, K. (2003). Perception of syllable-initial and syllable-final nasals in English by Korean and Japanese speakers. Second Language Research 19, 251-265.
 
Best, C.T. (1995). A direct realist view of cross-linguistic speech perception. In Strange, W. (ed.). Speech Perception and Linguistic Experience: Issues in Cross-language Research. Baltimore, MD: York Press, 171-204.
 
Broselow, E., S. Chen and C. Wang (1998). "The Emergence of the unmarked in Second Language Phonology." Studies in Second Language Acquisition 20: 261-280.
 
Brown, C. (1998). The role of L1 grammar in the L2 acquisition of segmental structure. Second Language Research 14, 136-193.
 
Dupoux, E., Pallier, C., Sebastian, N., & Mehler, J. (1997). A destressing "deafness" in French? Journal of Memory and Language, 36, 406-421.
 
Dupoux, E., Kakehi, K., Hirose, Y., Pallier, C., & Mehler, J. (1999). Epenthetic vowels in Japanese: A perceptual illusion? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 25(6), 1568-1578.
 
Eckman, F. R. (1977). Markedness and the contrastive analysis hypothesis. Language Learning 27, 315-330.
 
Eckman, F. R. (1981). On predicting phonological difficulty in second language acquisition. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 4, 18-30.
 
Eckman, F. R., A. Elreyes & G. K. Iverson (2003). Some principles of second language phonology. Second Language Research 19, 169-208.
 
Flege, J. E. (1995). Second language speech learning: theory, findings and problems. In Strange, W. (ed.). Speech Perception and Linguistic Experience: Issues in Cross-language Research. Baltimore, MD: York Press, 233-277.
 
Hancin-Bhatt, B., & Bhatt, R. M. (1997). Optimal L2 syllables: Interactions of transfer and developmental effects. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 19, 331-378.
 
Kabak, B. (2003). The Perceptual Processing of Second Language Consonant Clusters. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Delaware.
 
Kabak, B. & W. Idsardi (2003). Syllabically conditioned perceptual epenthesis. Berkeley Linguistics Society, 29.
 

LaCharité, D. & P. Prévost. 1999. The role of L1 and of teaching in the acquisition of English sounds by Francophones. In: Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Boston University Conference on Language Development. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press, pp.373–385.

 

Kabak, B. & W. Idsardi (in progress). Speech perception is not isomorpic to phonology: The case of perceptual epenthesis. 

 
Lombardi, L. (2003). Second language data and constraints on manner: explaining substitutions for the English interdentals. Second Language Research 19, 225-250.
 

Pater, J. (2003). The perceptual acquisition of Thai phonology by English speakers: task and stimulus effects. Second Language Research 19, 209-223.