Pascale Engel de Abreu|Susan E. Gathercole
Executive and phonological processes in second-language acquisition.
article reports latent variable study exploring specific links among executive processes working memory phonological shortterm memory phonological awareness proficiency first l1 second l2 third l3 languages 8 9yearolds experiencing multilingual education children completed multiple l1measures complex span verbal shortterm storage phonological awareness tests proficiency range linguistic domains vocabulary grammar literacy luxembourgish l1 german familiar l2 french unfamiliar l3 results indicate executive processing abilities phonological shortterm memory phonological awareness operate distinct related constructs manifest differential associations native second language proficiency multilingual children phonological shortterm memory uniquely linked vocabulary l1 structurally similar l2 executive processes related grammar across languages reading comprehension spelling phonological awareness made specific contributions word decoding spelling language proficiency structurally dissimilar l3 phonological processing abilities appear critical acquiring sound structure new language whereas executive processes share general links higher order linguistic abilities second language learners