Work

Second-Language Acquisition and First-Language Attrition of Speech: The Production of Arabic and English Short Vowels

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates if two groups of experienced late bilinguals (Arabic-English, English-Arabic) produce the Arabic vowels /ɪ, u, a/ and the English vowels /ɪ, ʊ, æ/ with nativelike formant values (F1, F2) compared with Arabic and English monolinguals, respectively. We aimed to characterize the relationship between second-language (L2) acquisition and first-language (L1) attrition of vowels, that is, does nativelike acquisition of an L2 vowel correspond to attrition of a phonetically similar L1 vowel, and vice versa? Moreover, we explored if nativelikeness of bilingual vowel productions is influenced by the predictor variable sound discrimination aptitude. Results show that bilinguals who produce nativelike L2 vowels are also able to maintain native L1 productions, suggesting that an increased L2 proficiency does not inevitably entail a decline in L1 proficiency.

Source: Language and Speech

DOI: 10.1177/00238309251344889

Authors: Lisa Kornder, Amirah Saud Alharbi, Anouschka Foltz

Institutions: University of Graz, Umm al-Qura University

Language: English

Topic: Phonetics and Phonology Research

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650

Funders: Umm Al-Qura University, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz