This publication constitutes a selection of papers presented at the 6th International Symposium on the Acquisition of Second Language Speech, New Sounds 2010, held in Poznań, Poland. It consists of two volumes, presenting state-of-the-art achievements and perspectives for future research related to the acquisition of second language phonetics and phonology. The key issues include the development of explanatory frameworks of phonological SLA, the expanded scope of domains under investigation, modern methods applied in phonological research, and a new take on the causal variables related to ultimate proficiency in L2 speech. This first volume contains a selection of 27 articles that cover a wide variety of themes including L2 speech perception and production, segmental and prosodic features, as well as factors related to foreign accentedness, individual variability and ultimate achievement in the acquisition of speech.

This volume brings together studies dealing with second language learning in contexts that provide intensive exposure to the target language. In doing so, it highlights the role of intensive exposure as a critical distinctive characteristic in the comparison of learning processes and outcomes from different learning contexts: naturalistic and foreign language instruction, stay abroad and at home, and extensive and intensive instruction programmes. The different chapters represent a wide range of learning contexts and types of learning, as well as different approaches that yield much needed evidence on the role of context of acquisition in second language learning.

This innovative work highlights interdisciplinary research on phonetics and phonology across multiple languages, building on the extensive body of work of Katarzyna Dziubalska-Kołaczyk on the study of sound structure and speech. // The book features concise contributions from both established and up-and-coming scholars who have worked with Katarzyna Dziubalska-Kołaczyk across a range of disciplinary fields toward broadening the scope of how sound structure and speech are studied and how phonological and phonetic research is conducted. Contributions bridge the gap between such fields as phonological theory, acoustic and articulatory phonetics, and morphology, but also includes perspectives from such areas as historical linguistics, which demonstrate the relevance of other linguistic areas of inquiry to empirical investigations in sound structure and speech. The volume also showcases the rich variety of methodologies employed in existing research, including corpus-based, diachronic, experimental, acoustic and online approaches and showcases them at work, drawing from data from languages beyond the Anglocentric focus in existing research. // The collection reflects on Katarzyna Dziubalska-Kołaczyk’s pioneering contributions to widening the study of sound structure and speech and reinforces the value of interdisciplinary perspectives in taking the field further, making this key reading for students and scholars in phonetics, phonology, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and speech and language processing.

This book is the first hands-on roadmap for conducting rigorous experimental research on second language speech processing and spoken word recognition. Isabelle Darcy expertly defines key concepts and offers a detailed step-by-step guide to designing empirical psycholinguistic research in this complex, interdisciplinary area. The book covers the following: setting up an efficient workflow to enhance reproducibility of findings; determining a methodology; selecting experimental controls and designing stimuli; collecting data using an array of methodological tools; addressing common challenges; preparing and analyzing data; preregistering the study; and sharing data transparently in accordance with Open Science practices. Darcy provides everything needed to design and carry out robust behavioral studies on L2 speech processing, in a laboratory or online. This book will be an invaluable practical resource for researchers and advanced students in second language speech learning, second language acquisition, psycholinguistics, cognitive science, and language teaching, as well as those interested in applied linguistics, pronunciation, and related subjects.

This state-of-the-art volume offers a comprehensive, accessible, and uniquely interdisciplinary examination of social factors’ role in second language acquisition (SLA) through different theoretical paradigms, methodological traditions, populations, contexts, and language groups. Top scholars from around the world synthesize current and past work, contextualize the central issues, and set the future research agenda on second language variation, including languages studied or taught less commonly. This will be an indispensable resource to scholars and advanced students of SLA, applied linguistics, education, and other fields interested in the social aspects of language learning in research practice and instruction.

A clear and practical introduction to second language acquisition, written for students encountering the topic for the first time.