Individual differences in the acquisition of language-specific and dialect-specific allophones of intervocalic /d/ by L2 and heritage Spanish speakers studying abroad in Sevilla

Abstract

This study examines the role of language proficiency and other individual factors (attitudes, input) in the acquisition of language-specific [ð] and dialect-specific [∅] allophones of Spanish intervocalic /d/ in the /ado/ context by L2 and heritage Spanish speakers during a short-term study abroad in Sevilla, Spain. Twenty L2-intermediate, 10 L2-advanced, and 10 Heritage-advanced Spanish speakers completed a reading task at the beginning and the end of the program. Based on an acoustic analysis, a mixed-effects linear regression model found that only L2-advanced and Heritage-advanced groups demonstrated more approximant-like [ð] over time. However, proficiency level interacted with attitudes and input. There were a few [∅] realizations, mostly produced by an L2-advanced speaker who also demonstrated metalinguistic awareness of the dialect-specific allophone. The findings imply that advanced (L2 and heritage) speakers with favorable attitudes toward the local variety are most likely to demonstrate gradient language-specific allophonic changes during a short-term SA program.

Oportunidades de aprendizaje lingüístico y cultural para estudiantes de español como LE en programas de estudios de corta duración en el extranjero

“…En Stevens (2017), hubo un incremento en el uso de la zeta (/θ/) en estudiantes (particularmente en mujeres) que participaron en un programa de seis semanas en Úbeda (España); sin embargo, la frecuencia fue muy limitada. En el estudio de Regan (2022) en Sevilla (España), hubo pocos casos de uso de la zeta, pero, cuando lo hubo, fue solamente en estudiantes de nivel avanzado con una actitud favorable hacia esa variante local.…”