First language attrition in foreign accent perception

Abstract

This study investigates first language attrition in perception of a foreign accent in one’s native language. Although studies of first language attrition abound, there are very few studies on L1 attrition in perception of adults. Furthermore, there is apparently no research dealing with L1 attrition in foreign accent identification. The present study is perhaps the first to investigate this issue, which has implications for both L1 and L2 attrition in perception. The study compares accent ratings of four different groups rating native and nonnative Brazilian Portuguese. The four listener groups comprised (a) Brazilian Portuguese listeners in Brazil, (b) Brazilian Portuguese listeners in the USA, (c) American English listeners in Brazil with Portuguese experience, and (d) American English listeners in the USA with Portuguese experience. There was no apparent attrition in the ability to distinguish between native and nonnative speakers, and in fact all four groups could distinguish between native and nonnative speakers. However, other aspects suggest attrition because the ratings of the Brazilian listeners in the USA were different from the Brazilian listeners in Brazil. In addition, there were slight differences between the American listeners in the USA and those in Brazil.