FOSSILIZED SOUNDS AND SECOND LANGUAGE ACCENTS

 

I am not a neuroscientist (whatever that may be) and I know nothing, like Steven Pinker, about how the mind works. However, I have been giving the matter of how mankind learns second languages much thought, and the challenges posed by pronunciation acquisition. Remember that I am sold on bilingualism, whatever the two languages might be, and the benefits derived thereof. One facet of language learning that intrigues me is why it is so difficult to reproduce the sounds of the second language well, which results in "accents". Native speakers can spot an accent when the person opens his mouth. Further even, we can tell what the speaker´s native language is, be it German, Italian, Spanish, or Chinese. My conceit is that the native language, the first we learn, installs itself in our brain cells, and with time it becomes fossilized and rigid.  In older learners, this is known as phonetic perception narrowing. They probably have some sort of a sound immune system that rejects foreign invading sounds. These cells use the old sounds to adapt to the incoming new sounds they do not recognize and even reject. The good news is that, given the plasticity of the brain, with training and repetition, and with good guidance, we can reproduce the new sound. Try it with the /t/ of Time and Tiempo. Targeted practice and training can help individuals improve their pronunciation skills in a second language and acquire a native-like accent.