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Article published In: Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism
Vol. 12:2 (2022) ► pp.191–219

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L1 Phonetic permeability and phonetic path towards a potential merger

The case of Galician mid vowels in bilingual production

 | University of Texas at Arlington
 | University of Saint Thomas
Published online: 30 September 2020
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https://doi.org/10.1075/lab.19094.del
Abstract
This study investigates the phonetic implementation of Galician /ɛ-e/ and /ɔ-o/ as produced by Galician-Spanish early bilinguals. It examines whether there is variation that can be explained by differences in participants’ linguistic histories (as captured by their language dominance scores). Based on production data from one point in participants’ lives, the study uses regression to predict phonetic variation from participants’ language dominance at that point in life. Results reveal that, although participants produce a robust /ε/ vs /e/ contrast, the L1 specific category, /ε/ presented a more fronted position, more like /e/, as a function of lower dominance in Galician. However, this effect was not replicated for the back vowels. Given our results, we argue that differences in language dominance may trigger phonetic variation in bilingual speech production in some variables, but not others. This result is consistent with the current cognitive approach in bilingualism research claiming the plasticity of native phonetic domains throughout an individual’s lifespan. Results also align with recent claims that language dominance does not equally affect multiple phonological processes for the same individual.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1Cross-linguistic interactions in bilingual speech production and perception
    • 2.2The construct of language dominance
    • 2.3The mid-vowel contrasts and the role of language dominance in its bilingual production
    • 2.4The Galician-Spanish bilingual context
  • 3.Research question and hypothesis
  • 4.Methodology
    • 4.1Participants
    • 4.2Data collection
    • 4.3Data analysis
  • 5.Results
    • 5.1Pillai scores for /ɛ/-/e/ and /ɔ/-/o/
    • 5.2Implementation of the phonemic contrasts
  • 6.Discussion
    • 6.1L phonetic system permeability and the phonetic path of a potential vowel merger
    • 6.2Phonetic drift is not observed across phonological properties and may involve factors beyond dominance shift
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
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