Multi-competence and first language attrition

Attrition and Reactivation of a Childhood Language: The Case of Returnee Heritage Speakers

“…Loss of input in a language in a stage of development when acquired knowledge is still not sufficiently stabilized (or “crystallized” according to Hernandez, Li, & MacWhinney, ) will, therefore, lead to language attrition (see also Montrul, ). In order to understand the process of mental stabilization of language, we will do an incursion into the field of neurocognition of linguistic knowledge (see Seton & Schmid, , for a summary) and, more generally, into research on memory consolidation (Takashima & Bakker, ). In fact, the idea of a stabilization period in language development can be captured by neuronal activity‐based accounts of learning and consolidation of knowledge, which posit that learning and retaining knowledge is linked to the degree of recurrence and recency of neuronal activity (Squire, ).…”

A Small-Scale Study on the Relationship between First Language Attrition and Language Attitudes in Polish Speakers in Sweden

“…Finally, in light of the research on the reversibility of some aspects of L1 attrition, (e.g. Hyltenstam et al 2009;Seton and Schmid 2016), another question could be asked, provided that L1 attriters would be interested in any kind of reactivation exercises: Is crosslinguistically induced L1attrition easier to reverse than L1 attrition related to attitudinal factors? In sum, this study supports previous insights into the relationship between L1 attrition and language attitudes.…”

“…also e.g., Andersen 1982;Gardner 1982;Köpke and Schmid 2004;Montrul 2008;Sharwood Smith 1983a, 1983b, 1989Schmid and De Bot 2004). The change might take place when a person moves from L1 environment to L2 environment, and most probably stays under conditions of reduced L1 use (e.g., Van Els 1986;Hyltenstam and Viberg 1993;Field 2004;Seton and Schmid 2016). Importantly, it is widely accepted that L1 attrition, or at least some aspects of it, might be reversible under favourable conditions, e.g.…”

“…Importantly, it is widely accepted that L1 attrition, or at least some aspects of it, might be reversible under favourable conditions, e.g. return to L1 environment or reactivation exercises (Hyltenstam et al 2009;Pallier et al 2003;Stolberg and Münch 2010;Seton and Schmid 2016).…”

Linguistics: Inheritance and Innovation in French Guianese Creole

“…This is known in usage-based linguistics as entrenchment (cf. among others Blumenthal-Dramé 2012; Hilpert and Diessel 2016;Seton and Schmid 2016). Entrenchment facilitates the retrieval of more complex items because they are processed as a fused unit.…”