Phonological Development In Bilingual Children Essay

Language selection patterns change over time in bilingual children as they develop more proficiency in each language.

Research shows that at the age of 3 bilingual children show patterns governed by adult rules.

Phonological Acquisition in successive bilinguals

Fledge argues that a starting point for phonological development is the phonological categories of the first language.

Research studies carried out by him have produced the following results:

The production of phonemes becomes more accurate with regard to the common phonemes between the two languages.

The characteristics of the phonological system of the first language may be evident throughout the life of the successive bilingual.

Lexical Acquisition in successive bilinguals

The

Vocabulary acquisition pace

Concerning the pace of acquisition, it seems that successive bilinguals are able to understand much of the vocabulary much faster than in the first language.

This happens because:

They are now mentally more mature.

There is also an existing vocabulary on which they can rely on for the necessary conceptual-semantic cartography.

An additional factor associated with the vocabulary acquisition pace is the context in which they are located and the extent to which they are given the opportunity to use the second language they are still learning.

Individual differences among successive bilinguals.

There are some factors, both external and internal, which cause individual differences among successive bilinguals.

Individual differences are numerous because there are many factors to consider such as internal factors:

The presence of other languages

The learner’s age

Qualities related to personality

And external or environmental factors such as:

The socio-economic situation of the family

The quantity and quality of exposure to the second