Dynamic insights regarding additional language development: an analysis of Voice Onset Time patterns of English-L2 and French-L3 produced by Brazilian learners in a phonetic instruction context

Abstract

In a view of language as a Complex Dynamic System (VERSPOOR; DE BOT; LOWIE, 2011, among others), it is accepted that changes in a language system subcomponent may result in changes in the other elements and in the system as a whole. The present study investigates the changes in the production patterns of Voice Onset Time in the English-L2 subsystem and its implications on the French-L3 subsystem in five Brazilian learners of English-L2 and French-L3 as additional languages. This study was conducted over the course of 3 months (12 data collection points) and included an intervention of six phonetic instruction sessions between weeks 4 and 9. Moving correlation analyses (cf. VERSPOOR; VAN DIJK, 2011) in moving windows of 3 and 7 points provide empirical data on the interrelation of the additional languages in a multilingual context.

Keywords

• sistemas dinâmicos complexos
• voice onset time
• instrução fonética.