The role of input variability and learner age in second language vocabulary learning
| Autor: | Helen Brown, Ruta Sinkeviciute, Gwen Brekelmans, Elizabeth Wonnacott |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
050101 languages & linguistics
Linguistics and Language First language 05 social sciences Indo-European languages Lithuanian Vocabulary learning 050105 experimental psychology Language and Linguistics language.human_language Vocabulary development Education Test (assessment) Comprehension Constructed language language 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences Psychology Cognitive psychology |
| ISSN: | 0272-2631 |
| Popis: | Input variability is key in many aspects of linguistic learning, yet variability increases input complexity, which may cause difficulty in some learning contexts. The current work investigates this trade-off by comparing speaker variability effects on L2 vocabulary learning in different age groups. Existing literature suggests that speaker variability benefits L2 vocabulary learning in adults, but this may not be the case for younger learners. In this study native English-speaking adults, 7- to 8-year-olds, and 10- to 11-year-olds learned six novel Lithuanian words from a single speaker, and six from eight speakers. In line with previous research, adults showed better production of the multispeaker items at test. No such benefit was found for either group of children, either in production or comprehension. Children also had greater difficulties in processing multiple-speaker cues during training. We conclude that age-related capacity limitations may constrain the ability to utilize speaker variability when learning words in a new language. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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