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The development of segmental phonological production in a bilingual child*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Marc L. Schnitzer*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Puerto Rico
Emily Krasinski
Affiliation:
Universidad de Puerto Rico
*
Box 23356, U.P.R. Station, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931–3356, USA.

Abstract

A longitudinal diary-and-videotape study of the production of phonological segments by a Spanish–English bilingual child, age 1;1–3;9, revealed four stages in consonantal acquisition: presystematic variation, formation of a single system, separation into two systems corresponding to the two languages, and achievement of adult target values with later interference of one language in the other. Vocalic acquisition proceeded with widespread variation, followed by stabilization at target adult values, without any apparent intermediate unitary-system stage. Relevance of the data adduced here to the issue of whether bilingual children first function with a single system before acquiring two discrete languages is discussed. The issue of what it may mean to have one or two systems of phonology is addressed.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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Footnotes

[*]

We are extremely grateful for the criticisms and helpful suggestions made by two anonymous reviewers for the Journal of Child Language. We believe that they have helped to make this paper much clearer and more useful. Part of this research was supported by a grant from the Fondo Institutional para la Investigación, Recinto de Río Piedras, Universidad de Puerto Rico, to which we are indebted.

References

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