A method for measuring attrition of communicative competence is introduced and illustrated using data from spontaneous multiperson conversations of Spanish L-3 subjects from Ghana. The method involves creation of a multifactor index using defined temporal variables, frequency counts of selected verbal behaviors, and grammatical information, and…

Research in the area of language skill attrition encompasses such areas as first-language loss, second-language loss, dying languages, and effects of age or disease on language loss. Research has so far focused on maintenance of language skills and interventions to stop language skill attrition. (CB)