The Robustness of Aptitude Effects in Near-Native Second Language Acquisition

Autor/inn/en	Abrahamsson, Niclas; Hyltenstam, Kenneth
Titel	The Robustness of Aptitude Effects in Near-Native Second Language Acquisition
Quelle	In: Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 30 (2008) 4, S.481-509 (29 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0272-2631
DOI	10.1017/S027226310808073X
Schlagwörter	Second Language Learning; Adult Learning; Adult Students; Language Aptitude; Native Speakers; English (Second Language); Language Proficiency; Swedish; Linguistic Theory + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Zweitsprachenerwerb; Adulte education; Adult training; Erwachsenenbildung; Adult; Adults; Student; Students; Erwachsenenalter; Studentin; Schüler; Schülerin; Sprachbegabung; Spracheignung; Muttersprachler; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz; Schwedisch; Linguistische Theorie
Abstract	Results from a number of recent studies suggest that nativelike adult second language (L2) learners possess a high degree of language learning aptitude, the positive effects of which may have compensated for the negative effects of a critical period in these learners. According to the same studies, child learners seem to attain a nativelike command of the L2 regardless of high or low aptitude, which has led researchers to conclude that this factor plays no role in early acquisition. The present study investigates the L2 proficiency and language aptitude of 42 near-native L2 speakers of Swedish (i.e., individuals whom actual mother-tongue speakers of Swedish believe are native speakers). The results confirm previous research suggesting that a high degree of language aptitude is required if adult learners are to reach a L2 proficiency that is indistinguishable from that of native speakers. However, in contrast to previous studies, the present results also identify small yet significant aptitude effects in child SLA. Our findings lead us to the conclusions that the rare nativelike adult learners sometimes observed would all turn out to be exceptionally talented language learners with an unusual ability to compensate for maturational effects and, consequently, that their nativelikeness per se does not constitute a reason to reject the critical period hypothesis. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10