Maturational constraints in adult SLA
Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: This article offers a review of the research on the existence of maturational constraints in second language acquisition (SLA), a very controversial issue in the literature. One of the most obvious constraints for adult SLA learners is clearly the accent. There are different opinions regarding the relationship between the age of second language (L2) learning and the degree of foreign accent. Even though there is not a consensus on this matter, two main theories account for these maturational constraints: the Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH) and the Sensitive Period Hypothesis (SPH). The limitations of the studies testing native-like speakers leads me to share Hyltenstam and Abrahamsson’s (2003) skepticism concerning the native proficiency of these speakers, which leads me to support the existence of maturational constraints due to lack of opposite evidence.
Keywords: Maturational constraints, Critical Period Hypothesis, Sensitive Period Hypothesis, native-like speakers, adult Second Language Acquisition.
Source: LL Journal
Author: Clara Burgo
Language: English
Subfield: Language and Linguistics
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2122078921