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Chapter 11. First language attrition and bilingualism

Adult speakers
  • Gülsen Yılmaz and Monika S. Schmid
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Bilingual Cognition and Language
This chapter is in the book Bilingual Cognition and Language

Abstract

A considerable amount of research has been devoted to exploring how bilinguals accommodate their languages. Since it has long been assumed that the native language, once completely acquired, would be immune to change, this research has mainly been focused on L2 development and L1 interference in the process of L2 learning (Gass & Selinker, 1992; Kecskes & Papp, 2000; Mitchell et al., 2013; Ringbom, 1987). However, psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic investigations into the bilingual mind have consistently demonstrated that interaction between languages is two-way and that bilinguals use and process their native languages differently than monolinguals (Cook, 2015; Green & Abutalebi, 2013; Pavlenko & Jarvis, 2002). While the precise nature of this phenomenon and the linguistic and psycholinguistic determinants involved have not been completely explored, the symptoms ascribed to first language attrition are unanimously characterized as a natural part of the developmental process in bilingualism. As attrition research has considerably advanced our knowledge on the impact of later-learned languages and bilingualism on the L1 and the loss of L1 skills, this has led to the realization that L1 attrition forms a vital component of research into bilingualism. This chapter will present a synthesis derived from the findings of previous studies on first language attrition in adult speakers in an attempt to explain the extent to which native language knowledge can become compromised, and how. It will also demonstrate how including these speakers in bilingualism investigations may help us explore the limits and possibilities of our language capacity and provide additional insight into controversial issues in second language acquisition research such as maturational constraints and the nature of L2 knowledge in late learners.

Abstract

A considerable amount of research has been devoted to exploring how bilinguals accommodate their languages. Since it has long been assumed that the native language, once completely acquired, would be immune to change, this research has mainly been focused on L2 development and L1 interference in the process of L2 learning (Gass & Selinker, 1992; Kecskes & Papp, 2000; Mitchell et al., 2013; Ringbom, 1987). However, psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic investigations into the bilingual mind have consistently demonstrated that interaction between languages is two-way and that bilinguals use and process their native languages differently than monolinguals (Cook, 2015; Green & Abutalebi, 2013; Pavlenko & Jarvis, 2002). While the precise nature of this phenomenon and the linguistic and psycholinguistic determinants involved have not been completely explored, the symptoms ascribed to first language attrition are unanimously characterized as a natural part of the developmental process in bilingualism. As attrition research has considerably advanced our knowledge on the impact of later-learned languages and bilingualism on the L1 and the loss of L1 skills, this has led to the realization that L1 attrition forms a vital component of research into bilingualism. This chapter will present a synthesis derived from the findings of previous studies on first language attrition in adult speakers in an attempt to explain the extent to which native language knowledge can become compromised, and how. It will also demonstrate how including these speakers in bilingualism investigations may help us explore the limits and possibilities of our language capacity and provide additional insight into controversial issues in second language acquisition research such as maturational constraints and the nature of L2 knowledge in late learners.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Studies in bilingualism 1
  4. Part I. Theoretical accounts
  5. Chapter 2. Bilingual child acquisition through the lens of sociolinguistic approaches 15
  6. Chapter 3. Usage-based approaches to second language acquisition 37
  7. Chapter 4. Formal linguistics and second language acquisition 57
  8. Part II. Child bilingualism
  9. Chapter 5. Simultaneous child bilingualism 81
  10. Chapter 6. Child L2 acquisition 103
  11. Chapter 7. The role of language input environments for language outcomes and language acquisition in young bilingual children 127
  12. Chapter 8. Literacy development in linguistically diverse pupils 155
  13. Chapter 9. CHILDES for bilingualism 183
  14. Part III. Adult bilingualism
  15. Chapter 10. Syntactic representations in late learners of a second language 205
  16. Chapter 11. First language attrition and bilingualism 225
  17. Chapter 12. Different situations, similar outcomes 251
  18. Part IV. Bilingual cognition, neuroscience and impairment
  19. Chapter 13. Bilingualism and executive function 283
  20. Chapter 14. Words on the brain 307
  21. Chapter 15. Neurobiology of bilingualism 325
  22. Chapter 16. Bilingualism and children with developmental language and communication disorders 347
  23. Chapter 17. Understanding the nature of bilingual aphasia 371
  24. Index 401
https://doi.org/10.1075/sibil.54.11yil

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Studies in bilingualism 1
  4. Part I. Theoretical accounts
  5. Chapter 2. Bilingual child acquisition through the lens of sociolinguistic approaches 15
  6. Chapter 3. Usage-based approaches to second language acquisition 37
  7. Chapter 4. Formal linguistics and second language acquisition 57
  8. Part II. Child bilingualism
  9. Chapter 5. Simultaneous child bilingualism 81
  10. Chapter 6. Child L2 acquisition 103
  11. Chapter 7. The role of language input environments for language outcomes and language acquisition in young bilingual children 127
  12. Chapter 8. Literacy development in linguistically diverse pupils 155
  13. Chapter 9. CHILDES for bilingualism 183
  14. Part III. Adult bilingualism
  15. Chapter 10. Syntactic representations in late learners of a second language 205
  16. Chapter 11. First language attrition and bilingualism 225
  17. Chapter 12. Different situations, similar outcomes 251
  18. Part IV. Bilingual cognition, neuroscience and impairment
  19. Chapter 13. Bilingualism and executive function 283
  20. Chapter 14. Words on the brain 307
  21. Chapter 15. Neurobiology of bilingualism 325
  22. Chapter 16. Bilingualism and children with developmental language and communication disorders 347
  23. Chapter 17. Understanding the nature of bilingual aphasia 371
  24. Index 401
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