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The successful participant has gained insight into current theories of L2 phonological acquisition. (S)he has learned to read research papers in the field of L2 phonological acquisition, to state a hypothesis about L2 phonological acquisition in such a way that it can be tested by a simple perception experiment, to conduct such an experiment, and to report on the results in a short paper (of about 4000 words).
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Acquiring the sound structure of a second language (L2) is a process which involves more than “learning to pronounce”. It involves an interplay of factors, including the first language (L1) background ('transfer') and age of the learner, size of exposure, properties of human perception and production, and possibly universal factors (“markedness”). The course focuses on the major questions (a) how L2 speech perception develops, and (b) to what extent L2 production and L2 production are interrelated. Recurrent themes are: similarities and differences between L1 and L2 acquisition, the role of learners’ age, the role of transfer, the notion of “perceptual distance”, and effects of perception and production training. The optional readings (which students can select for oral presentations) and the topics for final papers are adapted to MA students from the following fields of study: Dutch, English, French, German, and Spanish.
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