Significance

of Accent
 The Critical Period Hypothesis

 Brain Lateralization

 Time and role of lateralization in L2

learning

 Evidence against CPH

 Successful Language
Learner

The role of accent as a

component of success
Q: What factors affect
language acquisition?
second
 Critical Age and Accent Acquisition

 Accent acquisition is one component of

second language learning that learners
may not feel comfortable with.
 A debate centers on whether the
native accent is acquired early in life
or whether it can be acquired at any
time.
 Research on accent acquisition
is divided between:

Those scholars who believe that it

can only occur during a critical age.

Those who do not believe so.

 The Different
Theories
Those in favor of a critical period for acquiring a
native accent.

 Those who reject the strong version of CPH.

Those supporting the thesis that an older starting

age has a positive affect on second language
acquisition.
Supporters of CPH with regard to
accent
 They point to the existence of a critical period for acquiring a
native accent in the second language.

 Learners who start learning a second language after the age of

twelve will never be able to acquire its true native accent.

 Acquisition of the native accent occurs through exposure to

the native accent before age six and not later than age
twelve.
Q: Do adults have a disadvantage in
learning a second language?
Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger was

born in Austria. He Came to
America with little English
when he was 21. He has a
strong accent to his day, but
this didn’t stop him becoming
a Hollywood star and
Governor of California.
Opponents of the CPH with regard to accent

 Neufeld (1979) found that Canadian native English

speakers who started to learn French as adults succeeded
in acquiring the native French accent.

Bongaerts,Planken,and Schils (1995) indicated

that German people who began learning English in a formal
instructional setting after the age of twelve were able to began
learning English in a formal instructional setting after the age of
twelve were able to attain English pronunciation ratings.
Q: Is accent important in
judging a person’s proficiency
in second language learning?
Accent is not by any means the only
criterion for acquisition, nor is it the most
important one.

The acquisition of the communicative and

functional purpose of language is far more
important than a “ Perfect” native accent.
Advantages of Learning a Second
Language for Adults over Children
Adults are much successful than Children and superior to
them in learning:
Grammatical features

Lexical Items

Semantic features

Discourse features
The benefits of learning a second
language

Experience new Improved

understanding of
cultures the world

Multi competence
Achievement of second
language
learners