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In:New Frontiers and Connections in Second Language Acquisition: Selected Proceedings of the 17th Generative Approaches to Second Language Acquisition (GASLA-17) Conference
Edited by Tania Ionin and Silvina Montrul
[Language Acquisition and Language Disorders 71] 2026
► pp. 331–357

Redeploying dimensions and learning gestures in the acquisition of new sounds

Glottalized consonants in Mayan languages

 | Mount Royal UniversityCalgaryAlberta
 | Universidad Autónoma de CampecheCampecheCampeche
 | University of VictoriaVictoria, BritishColumbia
 | University of CalgaryCalgaryAlberta
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
This chapter explores the L2/L3 acquisition of Mayan ejectives from multiple languages. Proceeding from the dimensional framework of Avery and Idsardi (2001), we lay out a unified analysis of the phonological acquisition of Yucatec Maya by Spanish speakers, Kaqchikel by Spanish-English speakers, and Q’eqchi’ by English speakers. Both Spanish and English phonologies provide for a path to acquisition of glottalized consonants through their respective contrastive dimensions. Through phonetic completion and enhancement, learners redeploy knowledge of other laryngeal dimensions to successfully acquire sounds which L1 users of the target languages represent with Larynx Height, a dimension not utilized in the learners’ known language(s). Thus, language learners develop non-targetlike grammars that adequately map novel contrasts through the constraints provided by Universal Grammar.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Redeployment in SLA
    • 1.2Dimensions
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1Initial and final states
    • 2.2Phonology or phonetics?
    • 2.3Avery & Idsardi (2001)
    • 2.4Dimensions in action
    • 2.5Cross-linguistic variation
  • 3.Mayan studies
    • 3.1González Poot (2011; 2014)
      • 3.1.1Methods
      • 3.1.2Results
    • 3.2Nelson (2023a, b)
      • 3.2.1Note about Third Language Acquisition (TLA)
      • 3.2.2Methods
      • 3.2.3Results
  • 4.Analysis
    • 4.1Redeployment of laryngeal dimensions
    • 4.2Larynx Height in Mayan
    • 4.3Glottal Width in L1 English
    • 4.4Glottal Tension in L1 Spanish
    • 4.5Acquisition
      • 4.5.1Glottal Width in L2/L3 Mayan
      • 4.5.2Glottal Tension in L2/L3 Mayan
    • 4.6Discussion
  • 5.Conclusions
    • 5.1Phonological acquisition of Mayan languages
    • 5.2Successful learning
    • 5.3Fine-tuning redeployment
  • Notes
  • References
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