TY - JOUR
T1 - Phonological memory predicts second language oral fluency gains in adults
AU - O'Brien, Irena
AU - Segalowitz, Norman
AU - Freed, Barbara
AU - Collentine, Joe
PY - 2007/12
Y1 - 2007/12
N2 - This study investigated the relationship between phonological memory and second language (L2) fluency gains in native English-speaking adults learning Spanish in two learning contexts: at their home university or abroad in an immersion context. Phonological memory (operationalized as serial nonword recognition) and Spanish oral fluency (temporal/ hesitation phenomena) were assessed at two times, 13 weeks apart. Hierarchical regressions showed that, after the variance attributable to learning context was partialed out, initial serial nonword recognition performance was significantly associated with L2 oral fluency development, explaining 4.5-9.7% of unique variance. These results indicate that phonological memory makes an important contribution to L2 learning in terms of oral fluency development. Furthermore, these results from an adult population extend conclusions from previous studies that have claimed a role for phonological memory primarily in vocabulary development in younger populations.
AB - This study investigated the relationship between phonological memory and second language (L2) fluency gains in native English-speaking adults learning Spanish in two learning contexts: at their home university or abroad in an immersion context. Phonological memory (operationalized as serial nonword recognition) and Spanish oral fluency (temporal/ hesitation phenomena) were assessed at two times, 13 weeks apart. Hierarchical regressions showed that, after the variance attributable to learning context was partialed out, initial serial nonword recognition performance was significantly associated with L2 oral fluency development, explaining 4.5-9.7% of unique variance. These results indicate that phonological memory makes an important contribution to L2 learning in terms of oral fluency development. Furthermore, these results from an adult population extend conclusions from previous studies that have claimed a role for phonological memory primarily in vocabulary development in younger populations.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=38549114061&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S027226310707043X
DO - 10.1017/S027226310707043X
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:38549114061
SN - 0272-2631
VL - 29
SP - 557
EP - 581
JO - Studies in Second Language Acquisition
JF - Studies in Second Language Acquisition
IS - 4
ER -