This document discusses various factors that affect second language acquisition, specifically as it relates to accent. It presents different perspectives on the critical period hypothesis and whether a native accent can only be acquired during a critical period in childhood. Some key points discussed include: - There is a debate around whether a native accent can be acquired at any time or only early in life. - Research is divided between those who believe accent acquisition can only occur during a critical period in childhood, and those who reject this view. - Supporters of the critical period hypothesis argue learners must be exposed to the native accent before age 12 to acquire it, while opponents cite evidence that older learners can attain a native-like accent.

1. Significance
of Accent

2.  The Critical Period Hypothesis
 Brain Lateralization
 Time and role of lateralization in L2
learning
 Evidence against CPH

3. The role of accent as a component
of success
Successful Language Learner

4. Q: What factors affect second
language acquisition?

5. Accent acquisition is one component of
second language learning that learners
may not feel comfortable with.
A debate centers on whether the native
accent is acquired early in life or
whether it can be acquired at any time.
Critical Age and Accent Acquisition

6. Research on accent acquisition is
divided between:
Those scholars who believe that it
can only occur during a critical age.
Those who do not believe so.

7. The Different Theories
Those in favor of a critical period for acquiring a
native accent.
Those who reject the strong version of CPH.
Those supporting the thesis that an older starting
age has a positive affect on second language
acquisition.

8.  They point to the existence of a critical period for acquiring a
native accent in the second language.
 Learners who start learning a second language after the age of
twelve will never be able to acquire its true native accent.
 Acquisition of the native accent occurs through exposure to
the native accent before age six and not later than age twelve.
Supporters of CPH with regard to accent

9. Q: Do adults have a disadvantage in
learning a second language?

10. Arnold Schwarzenegger was
born in Austria. He Came to
America with little English
when he was 21. He has a
strong accent to his day, but
this didn’t stop him becoming
a Hollywood star and
Governor of California.
Arnold Schwarzenegger

11.  Neufeld(1979) found that Canadian native English
speakers who started to learn French as adults succeeded in
acquiring the native French accent.
 Bongaerts,Planken,and Schils (1995) indicated
that German people who began learning English in a formal
instructional setting after the age of twelve were able to began
learning English in a formal instructional setting after the age of
twelve were able to attain English pronunciation ratings.
Opponents of the CPH with regard to accent

12. Q: Is accent important in
judging a person’s proficiency
in second language learning?

13.  Accent is not by any means the only
criterion for acquisition, nor is it the most
important one.
 The acquisition of the communicative and
functional purpose of language is far more
important than a “ Perfect” native accent.

14. Adults are much successful than Children and superior to
them in learning:
Grammatical features
Lexical Items
Semantic features
Discourse features
Advantages of Learning a Second
Language for Adults over Children

15. Experience new
cultures
Improved
understanding of
the world
Achievement
Multi competence
of second
language
learners
The benefits of learning a second language