Phonetic learning as a pathway to language: new data and native language magnet theory expanded (NLM-e)

Infants' speech perception skills show a dual change towards the end of the first year of life. Not only does non-native speech perception decline, as often shown, but native language speech perception skills show improvement, reflecting a facilitative effect of experience with native language. The mechanism underlying change at this point in development, and the relationship between the change in native and non-native speech perception, is of theoretical interest. As shown in new data presented here, at the cusp of this developmental change, infants' native and non-native phonetic perception skills predict later language ability, but in opposite directions. Better native language skill at 7.5 months of age…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: 0354453
• UO
  University of Washington
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: HD37954, HD02274, P30 DC04661, DC04661
• NI
  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

  Awards: HD02274, P30 HD02274