ERIC Number: EJ1228199
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Sep
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0272-2631
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Contribution of Psychosocial and Biographical Variables to Heritage Language Learners' Linguistic Knowledge of Spanish
Torres, Julio; Estremera, Ricardo; Mohamed, Sherez
Studies in Second Language Acquisition, v41 n4 p695-719 Sep 2019
Individual differences (IDs) largely contribute to success in adult second language attainment (e.g., Dörnyei, 2006). Heritage language (HL) studies have also explored the role of IDs, namely psychosocial variables, and biographical factors with an adult HL learner population. However, the specific contribution of these variables to HL learners' performance on linguistic tests that differ in degree of explicitness and modality remains unknown. Therefore, the current study tested 103 adult HL learners of Spanish who completed a spoken elicited imitation task (EIT) and a written untimed grammaticality judgment task (UGJT) that elicited their knowledge of vulnerable morphosyntactic structures in HL bilingual acquisition. To investigate the contribution of individual learner factors on their performance, participants completed a few questionnaires. Mixed-effects regression models revealed that sequential bilingual status, willingness to communicate, generation and motivation contributed significantly, but yet differentially to participants' performance on grammatical and ungrammatical items of the EIT and UGJT.
Descriptors: Spanish, Heritage Education, Second Language Learning, English (Second Language), Bilingualism, Grammar, Task Analysis, Language Tests, Individual Differences, Role, Speech Communication, Imitation, Morphology (Languages), Syntax, Learning Motivation, Native Language, Adult Learning, Attitude Measures, Knowledge Level, Individual Characteristics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
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Language: English
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