Revisiting (Non-)Native Influence in VOT Production: Insights from Advanced L3 Spanish

Walcir Cardoso,Raquel Llama

doi:10.3390/languages3030030

Abstract

A growing body of research investigating cross-linguistic influence on the acquisition of a third phonological system suggests that first (L1) and second (L2) languages concur in influencing oral production in the target third language (L3). Yet, there are also claims of either a more noticeable effect of the L2 on the L3, or a prevailing influence from the L1. This study further explores whether the L1 and the L2 compete or converge on exerting influence on L3 pronunciation. To do so, we examine the production of voice onset time for voiceless stops by adult advanced learners of L3 Spanish divided into two groups (15 L1 English-L2 French, and 15 L1 French-L2 English speakers). Three monolingual control groups were also tested. Participants were recorded reading word lists that contained voiceless stops in stressed onset position. A Kruskal-Wallis test uncovered significant differences traceable to the L1-English speakers, which puts them at a slight disadvantage vis-à-vis their Francophone counterparts. These results favor claims of a more decisive role for the L1 in L3 pronunciation. We compare our results to findings from previous studies targeting intermediate learners, and find proficiency in the L3 may account for the observed differences.

Highlights

Research on the acquisition of phonological systems beyond the second language (L2) is “a newly emerging dynamic area” (Cabrelli Amaro and Wrembel 2016, p. 395)
We focused on the production of voice onset time (VOT, one of the most frequently studied properties in L3 phonology) by L3 learners at an advanced level of proficiency
Whereas the two related studies employed a cross-sectional approach, which allowed to portray static performance by two groups of Anglophones and two groups of Francophones at two different proficiency levels, a future study could benefit from a longitudinal design to better capture the dynamic nature of multilingual language learning, the different stages that characterize the phenomenon, and the potential switch in main source language for L3 production due to gains in proficiency

Summary

Introduction

Research on the acquisition of phonological systems beyond the second language (L2) is “a newly emerging dynamic area” (Cabrelli Amaro and Wrembel 2016, p. 395). Within the recently established field of Third Language Acquisition (TLA), the acquisition of third language (L3) phonology has often been labeled as an understudied domain (Cabrelli Amarom 2012). Thanks to the upsurge experienced in recent years, studies devoted to L3 phonetics/phonology seem no longer to lag behind those dealing with L3 lexicon and L3 syntax In their state-of-the art overview of the subfield, Cabrelli Amaro and Wrembel (2016) list four general questions L3 phonology research has addressed so far, which revolve around the following issues: (i) the so-called bilingual advantage; (ii) the source and/or (iii) directionality of transfer, and (iv) the developmental path of acquisition of an L3 sound system. This study will add to the body of work devoted to the second issue, the source of transfer, which will be referred to as cross-linguistic

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Conclusion