Understanding Language Attrition through Orthography

Beatriz Bermúdez-Margaretto,Hamutal Kreiner,Yury Shtyrov,Mikhail Pokhoday,Andriy Myachykov,Federico Gallo

doi:10.3390/languages6040199

Abstract

The decay in the proficiency of the native language (L1), known as first language attrition, is one of the least understood phenomena associated with the acquisition of a second language (L2). Indeed, the exact cause for the deterioration in L1 performance, be that either the interference from L2 acquisition or the less frequent use of L1, still remains elusive. In this opinion paper, we focus on one largely understudied aspect of L1 attrition—namely, the erosion of the L1 orthographic knowledge under the influence of L2 orthography. In particular, we propose to study differences in orthographic processing between mono- and bilingual populations as an approach, which, in turn, will allow to address both cognitive and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying L1 attrition. We discuss relevant experimental paradigms, variable manipulations and appropriate research methods that may help disentangle the largely debated question of L2 interference vs. L1 disuse, clarifying the nature of the L1 orthographic attrition.

Highlights

Speaking a second language (L2) has become imperative in a globalized world characterized by the development of broad socioeconomic connections and ever-growing cross-country and cross-cultural mobility
We argue that orthography offers an informative niche for the study of language attrition, especially when it comes to the
We focus on three essential hypotheses regarding the causes of L1 attrition, already tested in previous attrition research at other linguistic levels different from orthography which, importantly, have shown no conclusive results regarding the causal mechanisms of this phenomenon

Summary

Introduction

Speaking a second language (L2) has become imperative in a globalized world characterized by the development of broad socioeconomic connections and ever-growing cross-country and cross-cultural mobility. Direct comparisons between mono-, bi-, and multilingual populations across different tasks indicate that the acquisition and active use of a second language may positively affect linguistic processing at different levels (e.g., Borragan et al 2021; Jouravlev and Jared 2018 for the most recent examples) Such facilitatory effects are explained via the co-activation of. Such negative effects are jointly referred to as first language (L1) attrition, the term used to describe progressive deterioration in L1 performance along with the increase in L2 proficiency in the absence of pathological or age-related cognitive decline (Köpke and Schmid 2004) In this opinion paper, we first review the characteristics, factors of influence, and causal mechanisms of this phenomenon, with a particular focus on orthographic processing, a relatively unexplored aspect of L1 attrition whose systematic study, as it is subsequently proposed here, might significantly contribute to the better understanding of this phenomena

First Language Attrition

Conclusions