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Cross-language Influences in Bilingual Processing and Second Language Acquisition
Edited by Irina Elgort, Anna Siyanova-Chanturia and Marc Brysbaert
[Bilingual Processing and Acquisition 16] 2023
► pp. 18–46

Chapter 2
Cross-language influences in the perception and production of L2 phonetics and phonology in young bilinguals

| University of Geneva
This chapter provides an overview of findings on cross-language influence in the phonetic and phonological domain in children exposed to two (or more) languages in early childhood. The chapter first summarizes theoretical models which have been used to account for cross-linguistic interaction. It then examines findings on speech perception and production. It reviews the acquisition of phonetic and prosodic contrasts, differentiation of acoustic features such as Voice Onset Time and rhythm, and development of syllable structure and segments. Finally, it addresses important themes in early bilingualism such as quantitative and qualitative aspects of language input, the influence of the lexicon, and differences between simultaneous and early sequential bilinguals.
Keywords: crosslinguistic interaction, early bilingualism, phonetic and phonological development, speech perception, speech production
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • 1.Models of cross-language influence in young bilinguals
  • 2.Speech perception and production in young bilinguals
    • 2.1Cross-language influence
    • 2.2Studies of cross-language influence in speech perception
      • 2.2.1Language discrimination and the rhythm typology
      • 2.2.2Speech discrimination: Contrasts that exist in one language
      • 2.2.3Speech discrimination: Contrasts that exist in both languages
      • 2.2.4Word learning: Contrasts that exist in both languages
      • 2.2.5Word learning: Contrasts that exist in one language
      • 2.2.6Conclusion: Cross-language influence in speech perception
    • 2.3Studies of cross-language influence in speech production
      • 2.3.1Methodological limitations
      • 2.3.2Voice Onset Time (VOT)
      • 2.3.3Rhythm
      • 2.3.4Syllable structure
      • 2.3.5Segmental acquisition
      • 2.3.6Conclusion: Cross-language influence in speech production
  • 3.Themes related to cross-language influence in young bilinguals
    • 3.1Language experience: Quantitative aspects
    • 3.2Language experience: Qualitative aspects
    • 3.3The developing lexicon
    • 3.4Simultaneous versus early sequential bilingualism
  • Conclusion
  • References
Published online: 1 May 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/bpa.16.02keh
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