Home Linguistics & Semiotics Chapter 3. Issues for second language pronunciation in children
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Chapter 3. Issues for second language pronunciation in children

  • Tracey M. Derwing
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Child Bilingualism and Second Language Learning
This chapter is in the book Child Bilingualism and Second Language Learning

Abstract

Many L2 children exhibit native-like phonology, which can result in false assumptions about overall language development. For instance, teachers may assume that a child’s difficulties understanding schoolwork are due to cognitive delays rather than attributable to incomplete language acquisition. These suppositions can lead to the placement of L2 students in special education classes rather than language enrichment programming. Studies of children’s second language (L2) pronunciation development reveal that, contrary to popular opinion, some children have foreign accents. Although some L2 accents are easy to understand, requiring no intervention, pronunciation instruction research has identified strategies to enhance intelligibility when children’s productions are difficult to understand. Suggestions for assisting children and youth with intelligibility difficulties are made.

Abstract

Many L2 children exhibit native-like phonology, which can result in false assumptions about overall language development. For instance, teachers may assume that a child’s difficulties understanding schoolwork are due to cognitive delays rather than attributable to incomplete language acquisition. These suppositions can lead to the placement of L2 students in special education classes rather than language enrichment programming. Studies of children’s second language (L2) pronunciation development reveal that, contrary to popular opinion, some children have foreign accents. Although some L2 accents are easy to understand, requiring no intervention, pronunciation instruction research has identified strategies to enhance intelligibility when children’s productions are difficult to understand. Suggestions for assisting children and youth with intelligibility difficulties are made.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements vii
  4. Chapter 1. Integrating multiple views and multiple disciplines in the understanding of child bilingualism and second language learning 1
  5. Part I. Theoretical overviews
  6. Chapter 2. The application of bilingual phonological learning models to early second language development 9
  7. Chapter 3. Issues for second language pronunciation in children 29
  8. Part II. Bilingualism and second language learning
  9. Chapter 4. Two solitudes? 45
  10. Chapter 5. Using a novel sorting game to explore the role of phonotactic probability and linguistic environment in nonword processing by Spanish-English bilingual children 65
  11. Chapter 6. Effects of nonnative input on language abilities in Spanish-English bilinguals 87
  12. Chapter 7. Phonetic characteristics of filled pauses in Hungarian-English bilingual and Hungarian monolingual speech 113
  13. Chapter 8. Current developments in bilingual primary education in the Netherlands 137
  14. Chapter 9. Speech perception in French immersion students in Western Canada 167
  15. Chapter 10. Second first language acquisition following international adoption 189
  16. Part III. Methodological approaches
  17. Chapter 11. Phonological development 223
  18. Chapter 12. Using Phon to analyze phonological and speech data 249
  19. Chapter 13. Wordlikeness and nonword repetition in Spanish-speaking bilingual children 275
  20. Index 303
https://doi.org/10.1075/bpa.10.03der

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements vii
  4. Chapter 1. Integrating multiple views and multiple disciplines in the understanding of child bilingualism and second language learning 1
  5. Part I. Theoretical overviews
  6. Chapter 2. The application of bilingual phonological learning models to early second language development 9
  7. Chapter 3. Issues for second language pronunciation in children 29
  8. Part II. Bilingualism and second language learning
  9. Chapter 4. Two solitudes? 45
  10. Chapter 5. Using a novel sorting game to explore the role of phonotactic probability and linguistic environment in nonword processing by Spanish-English bilingual children 65
  11. Chapter 6. Effects of nonnative input on language abilities in Spanish-English bilinguals 87
  12. Chapter 7. Phonetic characteristics of filled pauses in Hungarian-English bilingual and Hungarian monolingual speech 113
  13. Chapter 8. Current developments in bilingual primary education in the Netherlands 137
  14. Chapter 9. Speech perception in French immersion students in Western Canada 167
  15. Chapter 10. Second first language acquisition following international adoption 189
  16. Part III. Methodological approaches
  17. Chapter 11. Phonological development 223
  18. Chapter 12. Using Phon to analyze phonological and speech data 249
  19. Chapter 13. Wordlikeness and nonword repetition in Spanish-speaking bilingual children 275
  20. Index 303
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