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Variation in Second and Heritage Languages: Crosslinguistic perspectives
Edited by Robert Bayley, Dennis R. Preston and Xiaoshi Li
[Studies in Language Variation 28] 2022
► pp. 279–310

Chapter 11
Sociostylistic variation in L2 French

What schwa deletion patterns reveal about language acquisition during study abroad

ORCID logo | University of California, Santa Cruz

Using a mixed-effects model and sociolinguistic interviews, this study provides empirical evidence for the emergence of targetlike patterns of phonological variation in L2 French learners during study abroad. Specifically, this study examines the acquisition of a phonological variable demonstrating sociostylistic variation in L1 speech: variable schwa deletion in clitics (/ə/ realized as [œ] or null, as in tu me dis [ty mœ di] ~ [tym di] ‘you tell me’). Results demonstrate that variation patterns of L2 French learners are conditioned by the phonological context of the clitic and that acquisition of variation follows a predictable order based on clitic type. Results also demonstrate that time spent abroad and social networks with native speakers are significant predictors of L2 variation patterns.

Keywords: L2 French, language variation & change, sociostylistic variation, second language acquisition, sociolinguistics, study abroad, social networks, L2 phonology, schwa deletion, mixed-effects model
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • The acquisition of sociolinguistic competence in L2 French
  • Social networks and language variation
    • Schwa deletion in French
  • Methods
    • Participants
    • Data collection
    • Social network strength scale for study abroad
    • Data coding: Dependent variable
    • Data coding: Independent variables
    • Data transcription protocol
    • Quantitative analysis
  • Results
    • Linguistic factors
      • Clitic type
      • Following phonological context
      • Preceding phonological context
    • Extralinguistic factors
      • Period of SA/interview #
      • Social network strength scale (SNSS) score
  • Discussion
    • Linguistic constraints on schwa deletion: Clitic type and collocations
    • Extralinguistic constraints on schwa deletion: Time abroad and social networks
  • Conclusions
    • Limitations and future directions
  • Notes
  • References
  • Appendix
Published online: 14 July 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/silv.28.11ter
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