Age and the Acquisition of English As a Foreign Language

by Mayo, Maria del Pilar Garcia; Lecumberri, Maria Luisa Garcia

• ISBN13: 9781853596391
• ISBN10: 1853596396
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-05-21
• Publisher: Multilingual Matters

Summary

This book provides an overview of current research on the age factor in foreign language learning, addressing issues, which are critical for language planning. It presents new research on foreign language learning within bilingual communities in formal instruction settings focussing on syntax, phonology, writing, oral skills and learning strategies.

Author Biography

Marfa del Pilar Garcfa Mayo is Associate Professor of English linguistics at the University of the Basque Country (Spain). Her research interests include the acquisition of second language syntax both from a generative and an interactionist perspective. Marfa Luisa Garcfa Lecumberri is Associate Professor of English phonetics at the University of the Basque Country (Spain). Her research interests are intonation in English and Spanish and the acquisition of English by foreign learners.

Table of Contents

Introduction
María del Pilar García Mayo and María Luisa García Lecumberri	vii
Part 1: Theoretical Issues
1 Critical Period or General Age Factor(s)?
David Singleton	3	(20)
2 Phonological Acquisition in Multilingualism
Jonathan Leather	23	(36)
3 Know Your Grammar: What the Knowledge of Syntax and Morphology in an L2 Reveals about the Critical Period for Second /foreign Language Acquisition
Stefka H. Marinova-Todd	59	(18)
Part 2: Fieldwork in Bilingual Communities
4 The Influence of Age on the Acquisition of English: General Proficiency, Attitudes and Code Mixing
Jason Cenoz	77	(17)
5 Age, Length of Exposure and Grammaticality Judgements in the Acquisition of English as a Foreign Language
María del Pilar García Mayo	94	(21)
6 English FL Sounds in School Learners of Different Ages
María Luisa García Lecumberri and Francisco Gallardo	115	(21)
7 Maturational Constraints on Foreign-language Written Production
David Lasagabaster and Aintzane Doiz	136	(25)
8 Variation in Oral Skills Development and Age of Onset
Carmen Muñoz	161	(21)
9 Learner Strategies: A Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Study of Primary and High-school EFL Teachers
Mia Victori and Elsa Tragant	182