ERIC Number: EJ1286845
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Feb
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0142-7237
EISSN: N/A
The Development of English as a Heritage Language: The Role of Chronological Age and Age of Onset of Bilingualism
Armon-Lotem, Sharon; Rose, Karen; Altman, Carmit
First Language, v41 n1 p67-89 Feb 2021
This study explores typically developing bilingual children's performance in their English as a heritage language. The aim of this study is to advance our understanding of heritage language expectations and the role of chronological age and bilingual exposure. A broad range of receptive and expressive linguistic domains are investigated as a function of chronological age and age of onset of bilingualism. English-Hebrew typically developing bilingual children (N = 240), ages 60-77 months, were compared to monolingual norms, using seven subtest standardized scores from the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals Preschool-2 (CELF-Preschool-2). Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANCOVAs, multiple regression analysis, and post-hoc comparisons were conducted. English heritage language speakers presented with an asymmetric linguistic system influenced by their chronological age and age of onset of bilingualism. Results demonstrated that performance was more advanced for measures that were less reliant on language-specific skills. Measures dependent on grammatical knowledge were vulnerable to limitations but they were within the monolingual norms. In contrast, the lexicon was heavily influenced by bilingualism. These findings contribute to the literature on bilingual linguistic expectations and will have implications for theories of heritage language acquisition and language acquisition in general.
Descriptors: Bilingualism, Native Language, Second Language Learning, Language Tests, Preschool Children, Semitic Languages, Comparative Analysis, Monolingualism, Grammar, Linguistic Theory, Language Acquisition, English, Age Differences, Mothers, Educational Attainment, Screening Tests, Language Skills, Foreign Countries, Scores
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Israel
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A