Third Language Acquisition of Japanese: Does Knowing a Second Language Help to Acquire Dissimilar Languages?
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
German/Japanese Education
Minor
N/A
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Reika Ebert, PhD
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
The number of bilingual citizens in our global society is increasing daily; whether it be through simultaneous bilingualism or sequential acquisition. Our world is becoming increasingly interconnected, thus creating the argument for increased research into language acquisition. There have already been studies conducted to support the argument that being bilingual improves the acquisition of a third language, but I have taken this a step further to study whether the same is true for third languages that are from different families to the previous languages. Using Japanese as a foundation, various second and third language acquisition articles, and personal experiences, I present the reasons as to how the learning of a third language becomes easier with a second language and why it still holds true when languages come from different families.
Affiliations
Modern Languages Senior Colloquium
Third Language Acquisition of Japanese: Does Knowing a Second Language Help to Acquire Dissimilar Languages?
The number of bilingual citizens in our global society is increasing daily; whether it be through simultaneous bilingualism or sequential acquisition. Our world is becoming increasingly interconnected, thus creating the argument for increased research into language acquisition. There have already been studies conducted to support the argument that being bilingual improves the acquisition of a third language, but I have taken this a step further to study whether the same is true for third languages that are from different families to the previous languages. Using Japanese as a foundation, various second and third language acquisition articles, and personal experiences, I present the reasons as to how the learning of a third language becomes easier with a second language and why it still holds true when languages come from different families.