Child L2 development: a longitudinal case study on Voice Onset Times in word-initial stops

Area of Science:

• Phonetics and Phonology
• Second Language Acquisition
• Child Language Development

Background:

• Investigating the acquisition of the English voice system in young learners.
• Examining the interplay between native (L1) and target (L2) phonetic systems.
• Comparing early L2 acquisition with L1, simultaneous bilingual, and late L2 acquisition models.

Observation:

• A longitudinal case study followed a three-year-old native Dutch speaker acquiring English.
• The study focused on the development of voice contrasts in stop consonants.
• Data collection involved analyzing phonetic productions over time.

Findings:

• The child successfully acquired the English voice onset time (VOT) contrast between short-lag and long-lag stops.
• The native Dutch phonetic system, which contrasts prevoiced and short-lag stops, was gradually modified.
• Evidence suggests a single, evolving phonetic system influenced by L2 input.

Implications:

• Early L2 exposure can significantly impact the development of a child's native phonetic system.
• This case provides insights into the flexibility and adaptability of the child phonological system.
• Findings contribute to understanding cross-linguistic influence in early bilingualism.