| 1. |
- Agebjörn, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Explicit and Implicit Knowledge of Article Semantics in Belarusian Learners of English: Implications for Teaching
- 2020
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Ingår i: Formal Linguistics and Language Education : New Empirical Perspectives - New Empirical Perspectives. - Cham : Springer International Publishing. - 1572-0292 .- 2215-1656. - 9783030392567 - 9783030392574 ; 43, s. 179-201
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The study investigates explicit and implicit knowledge of article semantics in 26 second language learners of English. Their first languages, Russian and Belarusian, lack articles. The research question is whether explicit knowledge, operationalised as an ability to explain what principle governs the choice between the definite and the indefinite article in a multiple-choice test, is associated with target-like use of articles in an oral, communicative task, assumed to tap mainly into implicit knowledge. No correlation between explicit and implicit knowledge, as measured with the two tasks, was found, suggesting that explicit knowledge is not necessary to acquire article semantics in this group of learners. The result is discussed within a modular, cognitive framework, and implications for teaching are considered.
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| 2. |
- Einfeldt, Marieke, et al.
(författare)
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THREE FIRST LANGUAGES (3L1) AT ONCE : A CASE STUDY OF TRILINGUAL CONSONANT DEVELOPMENT
- 2022
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Ingår i: Lingue e Linguaggio. - 1720-9331. ; 21:1, s. 73-98
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigates the development of the consonant inventories of a trilingual child acquiring Standard German, Swiss German and Italian simultaneously to find out whether and how mono- and trilingual acquisition differ. We examine our findings in the light of cross-linguistic interaction (CLI) and language separation in multilingual first language acquisition. To this end, longitudinal trilingual data as well as monolingual control data was analyzed for all three languages. We will discuss the role of language internal factors (markedness, frequency, complexity, typological proximity) for CLI as well as external ones (quantity and quality of input, dominance, metalinguistic awareness). Results speak for an independent development of the three sound systems with little CLI. Some sounds showed accelerated developments, arguably due to higher metalinguistic awareness resulting in advanced articulatory skills.
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| 3. |
- Ferin, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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LexVEN: A quick vocabulary test for proficiency in Venetan
- 2023
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Ingår i: Isogloss. - 2385-4138. ; 9:1, s. 1-31
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- While there is growing awareness that knowledge of regional minority languages must be protected, assessing the vitality of such varieties is challenging due to the lack of assessment materials. Our contribution documents the creation and validation of LexVEN, a bimodal yes/no vocabulary task, with the purpose of assessing the proficiency of users of Venetan with receptive and/or productive skills. The materials will be freely available. The vocabulary items were validated in a survey with 161 speakers of Italian, of which 136 came from the Veneto area. We have relied on Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT) in validating test items, and we demonstrate correlations with self-reported measures of proficiency and language use. Given the absence of any other assessment tools of Venetan for cross-validation, we further collected speech samples from a subset of the Venetan participants with active proficiency whose proficiency was rated by native speakers of Venetan. We discuss the procedures within a validation framework, concluding that LexVEN is reliable as a proficiency assessment tool of Venetan.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Lloyd-Smith, Anika, et al.
(författare)
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Heritage language proficiency does not predict syntactic CLI into L3 English
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1367-0050 .- 1747-7522. ; 24:3, s. 435-451
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study examines cross-linguistic influence (CLI) in the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in L3 English in German-dominant heritage speakers (HSs) of Italian. Specifically, we investigate whether a higher proficiency in the heritage language Italian increases the potential for CLI from that language. To this end, 21 adult-aged Italian-German early bilinguals and 32 monolingual controls (L1 speakers of Italian, German, or English) completed an acceptability judgement task that tested the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in English (while also controlling for the acquisition of the relevant properties in German and Italian). Language dominance was assessed using a yes/no vocabulary test and a proficiency index based on various aspects of self-reported language use and proficiency. Our results suggest that syntactic CLI occurs from both languages and that this is unrelated to overall dominance in German or proficiency in Italian.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Lloyd-Smith, Anika, et al.
(författare)
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Why Language Matters : Inequality Perceptions among the Sámi in Sweden and Norway
- 2023
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Ingår i: 'The Politics of Inequality' Policy Papers. - : University of Konstanz. ; :11, s. 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Every two weeks, one of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages dies. Yet what are the consequences of having to give up one’s native language? Speakers of minority languages worldwide face barriers to using their languages outside their homes, often with negative consequences for educational and economic success. A new survey of the Indigenous Sámi in Sweden and Norway suggests that language policies are key to perceptions of inequality. Speakers of the Sámi languages have lower perceptions of their societal standing than Sámi who have given up the language. Combined with insights from an in-depth study on Sámi language education, our findings suggest that policies should facilitate language maintenance in linguistic minorities. Supporting these languages may help to reduce feelings of discrimination
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