Date of Award
Fall 10-7-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
November 2025
Department
Psychology
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Erika Hoff
Abstract
Past work with bilinguals suggests that the acquisition of one language has an impact on the acquisition of another. What is unclear is the direction and strength of the relation between the two languages and whether the relation changes with age. Participants were children in South Florida who heard both Spanish and English at home. They were assessed in expressive (from 2.5 to 12 years) and receptive vocabulary (from 4 to 12 years). Both concurrent bivariate correlations and bivariate splines were used to evaluate the cross-language relations. Results suggest that early in acquisition the two languages compete for resources, but after the age of 4 years, the only observed negative relations between one language and the other was a negative effect of growing expressive English skill on the future growth of Spanish expressive skill. English and Spanish receptive vocabulary growth are consistently positively related from 4 to 12 years.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Heather J., "DOES THE ACQUISITION OF SPANISH AFFECT THE ACQUISITION OF ENGLISH? A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF MINORITY-MAJORITY SIMULTANEOUS BILINGUAL DEVELOPMENT FROM 2.5 TO 12 YEARS" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 196.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general/196