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FROM PHONEMIC DIFFERENCES TO CONSTRAINT RANKINGS: Research on Second Language Phonology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2004

Fred R. Eckman
Fred R. Eckman
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
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Abstract

This article surveys the development of second language (L2) phonology over the last 40–50 years. Research in this area has grown from analyzing learners' errors in terms of Contrastive Analysis to proposals explaining L2 sound patterns in terms of constraints on interlanguage grammar. Although native language transfer has endured as one source of learner constraints, researchers have, over the years, shown the necessity of phonological universals in explaining L2 phonologies. More recently, L2 phonologists have provided insightful analyses through constraint-based grammars within the framework of Optimality Theory.I would like to thank two anonymous SSLA reviewers for their many helpful comments and suggestions on this manuscript. As always, neither of these people is responsible for any misstatements, misrepresentations, or other errors.

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Research Article
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Studies in Second Language Acquisition , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , December 2004 , pp. 513 - 549
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© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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