Input factors, language experiences and metalinguistic awareness in bilingual children
Previous studies have examined either the input factors predicting language proficiency in bilingual children or the relationship between bilingualism and metalinguistic awareness. This thesis takes a novel approach exploring the two areas simultaneously. A study was conducted to investigate, first, the input factors that may cause variation in bilingual language proficiency and, secondly, the effects of differing levels of bilingualism on metalinguistic awareness. The participants were 38 French-English bilingual children aged six to eight, of middle to high socio-economic status, attending an international school in France. Data on the children's language experiences and family background were collected through questionnaires given to parents and children. Language proficiency was measured using the standardised French and English versions of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. Metalinguistic awareness was assessed through seven metalinguistic tasks each given in both languages. The findings are discussed in relation to Bialystok's (1986a) analysis and control framework and Cummins' (1976) threshold hypothesis. The results indicated a strong association between language exposure estimates and language proficiency
Cohen, Catherine
Input factors, language experiences and metalinguistic awareness in bilingual children. Previous studies have examined either the input factors predicting language proficiency in bilingual children or the relationship between bilingualism and metalinguistic awareness. This thesis takes a novel approach exploring the two areas simultaneously. A study was conducted to investigate, first, the input factors that may cause variation in bilingual language proficiency and, secondly, the effects of differing levels of bilingualism on metalinguistic awareness. The participants were 38 French-English bilingual children aged six to eight, of middle to high socio-economic status, attending an international school in France. Data on the children's language experiences and family background were collected through questionnaires given to parents and children. Language proficiency was measured using the standardised French and English versions of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. Metalinguistic awareness was assessed through seven metalinguistic tasks each given in both languages. The findings are discussed in relation to Bialystok's (1986a) analysis and control framework and Cummins' (1976) threshold hypothesis. The results indicated a strong association between language exposure estimates and language proficiency
input factor language experience metalinguistic_awareness bilingual_child previous_study examine either input factor predict language_proficiency bilingual_child relationship bilingualism metalinguistic_awareness take novel explore two_area simultaneously study_conduct investigate first input factor_may cause variation bilingual language_proficiency secondly effect differ level bilingualism metalinguistic_awareness participant french_english bilingual_child age middle high socio_economic_status attend international school france data child_language experience family_background collected questionnaire give parent_child language_proficiency measure use standardise french_english version picture vocabulary_test metalinguistic_awareness assess metalinguistic task give language finding discuss_relation analysis control framework person threshold hypothesis indicate strong_association language exposure estimate language_proficiency