Can adults succeed in adopting a desired accent or modifying their present accent

沈贇

I.Critical Period Hypothesis and L2 Phonological Acquisition

It seems to be commonly believed that children under certain age are better and quicker learners in a second language，especially in acquiring a native-like accent.‘Critical period theory （CPH） coined by Lenneberg （1967） is somehow a trigger of or support to the assumption.CPH is a biologically and neurologically critical period of time，which extends to 12，in language acquisition.There will be no linguistic proficiency in completely mastering a language after 12.In SLA，it can be interpreted as it is possible to acquire a second language after this sensitive period.

II.Counterevidence to CHP

Are late starters so doomed in authentic phonological production？ Age is，undeniably，a sensitive and broad issue in phonological attainment in L2 acquisition，and has become more controversial after the publishing of Longs article.Recently，there are loads of researches and experiments conducted into this domain and quite a few of them have shown optimistic results.It seems to be possible for adult learners to reach a high level of proficiency in pronunciation or to change a fossilized pronunciation in L2，provided by certain context of instruction，motivation，talent，exposure to L2 and so on.

Lecumberri.and Gallardo.（2003：115-135） conducted a longitudinal study in English Department of the University of Basque Country.One of the aims of their experiment is to find out relationship between degree of foreign accent and the starting age.They came to the conclusion that late starting age is an advantage for degree of foreign accent and intelligibility.That is to say the older group has weaker foreign accent than the younger ones.Meanwhile，they point out that teaching methods and students learning strategies are hugely correlated to L2 pronunciation outcome.

III.Theories violating to CPH

1.Psychological approach

Accent is an identity indicator.It shows ones educational，social，ethnic background.According to Brown and Levinsons （1978：70） theory of face threatening act，changing an accent in order to favor the target group people is an in-group marker，thus the action taker threatens his own positive face.Guiora （1990） also explains child-adult difference in L2 phonological acquisition in terms of psychology.Pronunciation，as he goes，is the core of our ego language，or language identity.And as mature people cannot bear to have two identities，they develop a psychological barrier，which hinderers their ability to reach a native like proficiency in pronunciation.

2.Type of input and the impact of L1

Bialystock （1997） points out that the relationship between language structure in their first language and second language is the most important factor impacting on the acquisition.In my view，the learners will be effect by L1 in terms of the language structure of L1，the amount of use of L1，and instruction of L2 in contrast to L1.Fledge，F(xiàn)rieda，and Nozawa （1997） suggest the late learners pronunciation accuracy are affected by the activation of their L1.In another words，the less often you speak your mother language，the more chance you have to develop or maintain an authentic L2 pronunciation.

Summery

In sum，the research on these literatures opens a rather optimistic perspective to this issue— whether late learners can reach native-like phonological production.I hold the view that，though more difficult and challenging than young learners，adult learners may successfully attain or at least get close to an accent they would like to speak，given their own motivation，learning strategy and scientific instruction.

References：

[1]Bialystok， E.1997.The structure of age： In search of barriers to second language acquisition.In Second Language Research， 13， （pp 116-137）.

[2]Bongaerts， D.1999.Ultimate attainment in L2 pronunciation： The case of advanced late L2 learners.In D.Birdsong （ED） Second Language Acquisition and the Critical Period Hypothesis.， （pp.133-159） Mahwah， NJ：Erlbaum.

[3]Brown， P and Levinson， S.1978.‘Universals in Language Usage： Politeness Phenomena in E.Goody （ED） Questions and Politeness： Strategies in Social Interaction.Cambridge： Cambridge University Press.

[4]Guiora， A.Z.1990.A psychological theory of second language pronunciation.In Teogerpaste Taalwetenschap in Artukelen.37 （pp.15-23）.

[5]Lenneberg，E.1967.Biological Foundations of Language.New York： Wiley and Sons.