Work

Dialect density in bilingual Puerto Rican Spanish-English speaking children

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: It is still largely unknown how the two phonological systems of bilingual children interact. In this exploratory study, we examine children’s use of dialect features to determine how their speech sound systems interact. Six monolingual Puerto Rican Spanish-speaking children and six bilingual Puerto Rican Spanish-English speaking children, ages 5–7 years, were included in the current study. Children’s single word productions were analyzed for (1) dialect density and (2) frequency of occurrence of dialect features (after Oetting & McDonald, 2002 ). Nonparametric statistical analyses were used to examine differences within and across language groups. Results indicated that monolinguals and bilinguals exhibited similar dialect density, but differed on the types of dialect features used. Findings are discussed within the theoretical framework of the Dual Systems Model ( Paradis, 2001 ) of language acquisition in bilingual children.

Source: Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism

DOI: 10.1075/lab.4.1.02fab

Authors: Leah Fabiano-Smith, Rebecca Shuriff, Jessica A. Barlow, Goldstein Brian A.

Institutions: University of Arizona, Ithaca College, San Diego State University, La Salle University

Language: English

Topic: Language Development and Disorders

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

Award: G2548121255