Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-6kn8j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-31T19:52:02.334Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Auditory Memory and Perception in Younger and Older Adult Second Language Learners

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2008

Mary Lee Scott
Mary Lee Scott
Affiliation:
Brigham Young University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This study compared younger and older adult monolingual English speakers and bilingual (English/Spanish) speakers on aspects of language learning aptitude, specifically, measures of auditory perception and memory span, in English and Spanish. Multivariate analyses of variance revealed no age difference in auditory memory span in English; however, both older and younger bilinguals performed better than monolinguals on these tasks. Younger subjects performed better than older subjects on measures of auditory perception in English. Older and younger monolinguals performed similarly on a measure of auditory memory span in Spanish, whereas younger monolinguals demonstrated more accuracy on Spanish perception tasks. The Spanish proficiency of the younger bilinguals far exceeded that of the older bilinguals, and their performance was better on measures of auditory memory and perception in Spanish even when differences in proficiency were statistically controlled. However, a comparison of subgroups of older and younger bilinguals showing a similar level of Spanish proficiency revealed that the performance of the older bilinguals approached fairly closely the performance of the younger subjects on the Spanish auditory memory and perception tasks.

Information

Type
Articles
Information
Studies in Second Language Acquisition , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , September 1994 , pp. 263 - 281
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

Albert, M. L. (1980). Language in normal and dementing elderly. In Obler, L. K. & Albert, M. L. (Eds.), Language and communication in the elderly: Clinical, therapeutic, and experimental issues (pp. 145–150). Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Albert, M. L., & Obler, L. K. (1978). The bilingual brain. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Bayles, K. A., & Kaszniak, A. W. (1987). Communication and cognition in normal aging. San Diego, CA: Little, Brown & Co.Google Scholar
Bilger, R. C., Neutzel, J. M., Rabinowitz, W. M., & Rzeczkowski, C. (1984). Standardization of a test of speech perception in noise. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 27, 32–48.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Borden, G., & Harris, K. (1980). Speech science primer: Physiology, acoustics, and perception of speech. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins.Google Scholar
Botwinick, J., & Storandt, M. (1974). Memory, related functions, and age. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas.Google Scholar
Brändle, M. (1986). Language teaching for the “young-old.” Babel: Journal of the Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers Association, 21, 17–21.Google Scholar
Brown, C. (1983). The distinguishing characteristics of the older adult second language learner. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles.Google Scholar
Clyne, M. G. (1981). Second language attrition and first language reversion among elderly bilinguals in Australia. In Meid, W. & Heller, K. (Eds.), Sprachkontakt als Ursache von Veranderungen der Sprach-und BewuBtseinsstruktur: Eine Sammlung von Studien zur sprachlichen Interferenz (pp. 25–32). Innsbruck: Institut für Sprachwissenschaft.Google Scholar
Craik, F. I. M., & Simon, E. (1980). Age differences in memory: The roles of attention and depth of processing. In Poon, L. W., Fozard, J. L., Cermak, L. S., Arenberg, D., & Thompson, L. W. (Eds.), New directions in memory and aging: Proceedings of the George A. Talland memorial conference (pp. 95–112). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Davignon, D. D., & Leshowitz, B. H. (1986). The speech-in-noise test: A new approach to the assessment of communication capability of elderly persons. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 23, 149–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dubno, J. R., Dirks, D. D., & Morgan, D. E. (1984). Effects of age and mild hearing loss on speech recognition in noise. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 76, 87–96.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duquesnoy, A. J. (1983). The intelligibility of sentences in quiet and in noise in aged listeners. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 74, 1136–1144.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Educational Testing Service. (1964). MLA—Cooperative Foreign Language Tests. Princeton, NJ: Author.Google Scholar
Educational Testing Service. (1965). MLA—Cooperative Foreign Language Tests: Booklet of norms. Monterey, CA: CTB/McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Flege, J. E. (1984). The detection of French accent by American listeners. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 76, 692–707.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Flege, J. E. (1988). Factors affecting degree of perceived foreign accent in English sentences. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 84, 70–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Geschwind, N. (1980). Language and communication in the elderly: An overview. In Obler, L. K. & Albert, M. L. (Eds.), Language and communication in the elderly (pp. 205–209). Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Harrington, M., & Sawyer, M. (1992). L2 working memory capacity and L2 reading skill. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 14, 25–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harwood, E., & Naylor, G. F. K. (1975/1976). You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Age Concern, 16, 10–12.Google Scholar
Hasher, L., & Zacks, R. T. (1988). Working memory, comprehension, and aging: A review and a new view. The Psychology of Learning and Motivation, 22, 193–225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kalfus, R. (1977). A new audience for FL instruction: The older adult. ADFL Bulletin, 9, 49–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Katz, J. (Ed.). (1985). Handbook of clinical audiology. Los Angeles: Williams & Wilkins.Google Scholar
Kinsbourne, M. (1980). Attentional dysfunctions and the elderly: Theoretical models and research perspectives. In Poon, L. W., Fozard, J. L., Cermak, L. S., Arenberg, D., & Thompson, L. W. (Eds.), New directions in memory and aging: Proceedings of the George A. Talland memorial conference (pp. 113–129). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
McGrew, K. S. (1986). Clinical interpretation of the Woodcock-Johnson tests of cognitive ability. Orlando, FL: Grune & Stratton.Google Scholar
Obler, L. K., & Albert, M. L. (1977). Influence of aging on recovery from aphasia in polyglots. Brain and Language, 4, 460–463.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rodríguez-Bou, I. (1952). Recuento de vocabulario español (Vol. 1). Río Piedras, Puerto Rico: Universidad de Puerto Rico.Google Scholar
Roumani, J. (1978). Foreign language learning for older learners: Problems and approaches. Washington, DC:Peace Corps. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 192 627)Google Scholar
Rupp, R. R. (1980). Speech input processing, hearing loss, and aural rehabilitation with the elderly. In Obler, L. K. & Albert, M. L. (Eds.), Language and communication in the elderly (pp. 159–179). Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Scott, M. L. (1989). Younger and older adult second language learners: A comparison of auditory memory and perception. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles.Google Scholar
Skehan, P. (1991). Individual differences in second language learning. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 13, 275–298.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stevenson, P. (1975). Responses to speech audiometry and phonemic discrimination patterns in the elderly. Audiology, 14, 183–231.Google ScholarPubMed
Stine, E. L., & Wingfield, A. (1987). Process and strategy in memory for speech among younger and older adults. Psychology and Aging, 2, 272–279.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Waugh, N. E., & Barr, R. A. (1980). Memory and mental tempo. In Poon, L. W., Fozard, J. L., Cermak, L. S., Arenberg, D., & Thompson, L. W. (Eds.), New directions in memory and aging: Proceedings of the George A. Talland memorial conference (pp. 251–260). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Weinstock, R. (1978). The graying of the campus. New York: Educational Facilities Laboratories.Google Scholar
Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery. (1977). Allen, TX: DLM Teaching Resources.Google Scholar
Working Group on Speech Understanding and Aging. (1988). Speech understanding and aging. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 83, 859–895.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yantis, P. A. (1985). Puretone air-conduction testing. In Katz, J. (Ed.), Handbook of clinical audiology (3rd ed., pp. 153–169). Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins.Google Scholar
Zdenek, J. W. (1983). Teaching FLOP. Foreign Language Annals, 16, 103–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar