Bilingual phonological interaction: Cross-language process transfer in code-switching

Bilinguals challenge the boundaries of languages’ distinct grammars – including their phonological systems and phonological processes – but the impact of code-switching on the challenging of these boundaries is not fully understood. The current study explores the interaction between adult bilinguals’ two phonological systems by investigating the effects of code-switching on the cross-language transfer of phonological processes. I investigate two main questions: 1) Can a bilingual speaker cross-linguistically transfer phonological processes (promotion) or the lack of particular processes (inhibition) in a code-switching context?; and 2) Do code switches affect the degree and/or frequency of these cross-language influences? To answer these questions, I examine the /t/ → [ɾ] tapping process of English and /d/ → [ð] spirantization process of Spanish. Data was collected from the Miami Corpus (Bangor University). Results indicate that phonological processes and the lack of particular processes can transfer cross-linguistically in code-switching contexts, and these transfers can be realized through phonetically gradient and, occasionally, categorical effects. Results also indicate that code switches can indeed affect the nature of these cross-language phonological processes transfers. These results suggest that code-switching can motivate the interaction between a bilingual’s two phonological systems and offer insight into the nature of phonological systems’ boundaries

Cross-Language Phonological Influence in Spanish-English Code-Switching

While it is known that bilinguals have cross-language interactions between phonological processes and that code-switching can strengthen within-speaker cross-language phonetic convergence, few studies have examined whether code-switching can strengthen cross-language phonological interactions. This study explores the effects of code-switching on the crosslanguage transfer of phonological processes between a bilingual&rsquo;s two phonological systems. I investigate two main questions: 1) Can a bilingual speaker cross-linguistically transfer phonological processes (promotion) or the lack of particular processes (inhibition) in a codeswitching context?; and 2) Do code switches affect the degree and/or frequency of these crosslanguage influences? I examine the English tapping process (/t/ &rarr; [ɾ]) and the Spanish spirantization process (/d/ &rarr; [&eth;]) in both languages in spontaneous code-switched speech. Data was collected from the Miami Corpus (Bangor University&rsquo;s Centre for Research on Bilingualism in Theory and Practice). Results indicate that code-switching can indeed affect bilinguals&rsquo; cross-language transfers of phonological processes. This occurs through process promotion, wherein a process of one language is transferred into the other language, and process inhibition, wherein the lack of a particular process in one language is transferred into the other. These cross-language transfers exert influence as partial promotions or inhibitions, realized as phonetically gradient effects (e.g., Spanish /t/ realized as a more tap-like /t/), and occasionally as more complete promotions, realized as a categorically distinct allophone (e.g., Spanish /t/ realized as [ɾ]). These results indicate that code-switching can strengthen the interactions between a bilingual&rsquo;s two phonological systems.</p

Academic Librarians in Public Service (ALPS) December Meeting 2012

The annual BCLA ALPS December Meeting took place at Langara College on December 14, 2012. This year’s theme touched on two of the hottest topics in academic librarianship: service reviews and assessment. The morning session began with a panel discussion on library service reviews and their impact. Featured panelists included: library managers, librarians and support staff from three academic institutions: SFU, UBC-O and UBC-V. Speakers for the early morning session were Janis McKenzie (SFU), Scott Mackenzie (SFU), Sarah Stang (UBC-O), Sierra Stephens (UBC-O), Gordon Yusko (UBC-V) and Julie Mitchell (UBC-V). These presentations can be found at 00:05:40 - 01:13:58 in the recording). The late morning presentation was delivered by Erin Fields (UBC-V) on the subject of first year instruction assessment. (This presentation can be found at 01:13:58 - 02:12:00 in the recording). Presentation slides from SFU and UBC-V speakers are available.Library, UBCNon UBCUnreviewedFacultyOthe