DOMAIN-GENERAL AUDITORY PROCESSING EXPLAINS MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS OF L2 ACQUISITION IN ADULTHOOD

In this study, we propose a hypothesis that domain-general auditory processing, a perceptual anchor of L1 acquisition, can serve as the foundation of successful post-pubertal L2 learning. This hypothesis was tested with 139 post-pubertal L2 immersion learners by linking individual differences in aud...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inStudies in second language acquisition Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 57 - 86
Main Authors Saito, Kazuya, Sun, Hui, Kachlicka, Magdalena, Alayo, John Robert Carvajal, Nakata, Tatsuya, Tierney, Adam
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.03.2022
Subjects
Acoustics
Adult learning
Adults
Auditory Perception
Auditory processing
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Cognitive ability
Correlation
Determiners
Foreign language learning
Grammar
Hypotheses
Immersion Programs
Individual Differences
Intonation
Laboratory Training
Language Acquisition
Language Aptitude
Language Processing
Language Proficiency
Learning Problems
Length of residency
Linguistic Competence
Linguistic Input
Linguistic Theory
Morphosyntax
Native Language
Overseas Employment
Perceptions
Phonemes
Phonology
Prosody
Puberty
Reading Instruction
Research Article
Scores
Second Language Learning
Semantics
Short Term Memory
Suprasegmentals
Syntax
Teaching Methods
Vowels
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Summary:In this study, we propose a hypothesis that domain-general auditory processing, a perceptual anchor of L1 acquisition, can serve as the foundation of successful post-pubertal L2 learning. This hypothesis was tested with 139 post-pubertal L2 immersion learners by linking individual differences in auditory discrimination across multiple acoustic dimensions to the segmental, prosodic, lexical, and morphosyntactic dimensions of L2 proficiency. Overall, auditory processing was a primary determinant of a range of participants’ proficiency scores, even after biographical factors (experience, age) were controlled for. The link between audition and proficiency was especially clear for L2 learners who had passed beyond the initial phase of immersion (length of residence > 1 year). The findings suggest that greater auditory processing skill benefits post-pubertal L2 learners immersed in naturalistic settings for a sufficient period of time by allowing them to better utilize received input, which results in greater language gains and leads to more advanced L2 proficiency in the long run (similar to L1 acquisition).
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ISSN:0272-2631
1470-1545
DOI:10.1017/S0272263120000467