Abstract
We present a framework of second and additional language (L2/Ln) acquisition motivated by recent work on socio-indexical knowledge in first language (L1) processing. The distribution of linguistic categories covaries with socio-indexical variables (e.g., talker identity, gender, dialects). We summarize evidence that implicit probabilistic knowledge of this covariance is critical to L1 processing, and propose that L2/Ln learning uses the same type of socio-indexical information to probabilistically infer latent hierarchical structure over previously learned and new languages. This structure guides the acquisition of new languages based on their inferred place within that hierarchy and is itself continuously revised based on new input from any language. This proposal unifies L1 processing and L2/Ln acquisition as probabilistic inference under uncertainty over socio-indexical structure. It also offers a new perspective on crosslinguistic influences during L2/Ln learning, accommodating gradient and continued transfer (both negative and positive) from previously learned to novel languages, and vice versa.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 900-944 |
| Number of pages | 45 |
| Journal | Language Learning |
| Volume | 66 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Education
- Language and Linguistics
- Linguistics and Language
Keywords
- hierarchical probabilistic inference
- second language acquisition
- speech adaptation
- statistical learning
Cite this
}
Learning Additional Languages as Hierarchical Probabilistic Inference : Insights From First Language Processing. / Pajak, Bozena; Fine, Alex B.; Kleinschmidt, Dave F.; Jaeger, T. Florian.
In: Language Learning, Vol. 66, No. 4, 01.12.2016, p. 900-944.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Learning Additional Languages as Hierarchical Probabilistic Inference
T2 - Insights From First Language Processing
AU - Pajak, Bozena
AU - Fine, Alex B.
AU - Kleinschmidt, Dave F.
AU - Jaeger, T. Florian
PY - 2016/12/1
Y1 - 2016/12/1
N2 - We present a framework of second and additional language (L2/Ln) acquisition motivated by recent work on socio-indexical knowledge in first language (L1) processing. The distribution of linguistic categories covaries with socio-indexical variables (e.g., talker identity, gender, dialects). We summarize evidence that implicit probabilistic knowledge of this covariance is critical to L1 processing, and propose that L2/Ln learning uses the same type of socio-indexical information to probabilistically infer latent hierarchical structure over previously learned and new languages. This structure guides the acquisition of new languages based on their inferred place within that hierarchy and is itself continuously revised based on new input from any language. This proposal unifies L1 processing and L2/Ln acquisition as probabilistic inference under uncertainty over socio-indexical structure. It also offers a new perspective on crosslinguistic influences during L2/Ln learning, accommodating gradient and continued transfer (both negative and positive) from previously learned to novel languages, and vice versa.
AB - We present a framework of second and additional language (L2/Ln) acquisition motivated by recent work on socio-indexical knowledge in first language (L1) processing. The distribution of linguistic categories covaries with socio-indexical variables (e.g., talker identity, gender, dialects). We summarize evidence that implicit probabilistic knowledge of this covariance is critical to L1 processing, and propose that L2/Ln learning uses the same type of socio-indexical information to probabilistically infer latent hierarchical structure over previously learned and new languages. This structure guides the acquisition of new languages based on their inferred place within that hierarchy and is itself continuously revised based on new input from any language. This proposal unifies L1 processing and L2/Ln acquisition as probabilistic inference under uncertainty over socio-indexical structure. It also offers a new perspective on crosslinguistic influences during L2/Ln learning, accommodating gradient and continued transfer (both negative and positive) from previously learned to novel languages, and vice versa.
KW - hierarchical probabilistic inference
KW - second language acquisition
KW - speech adaptation
KW - statistical learning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84961262780&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84961262780&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/lang.12168
DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/lang.12168
M3 - Review article
VL - 66
SP - 900
EP - 944
JO - Language Learning
JF - Language Learning
SN - 0023-8333
IS - 4
ER -