Convergence and divergence in the acquisition of French liaison by native and non-native speakers

This article presents an overview of empirical findings to date concerning the acquisition of liaison in French as a first and second language (L1 and L2, respectively). We present data culled from production studies as well as from psycholinguistic experimentation involving various paradigms. Our aim is to highlight both the similarities and differences in the learning strategies and developmental paths followed by these two groups of learners, including particular examination of how representations of liaison in a learner’s phonological grammar may develop and change throughout the course of development. We conclude with a discussion of areas where existing data are lacking and potential avenues for future research.