Development of second language phonetic and phonological categories

世界上大多数人会说两种或两种以上的语言，但我们对一种语言如何适应多种语言知之甚少。为什么孩子们学习第二语言的过程看起来像“当地人一样”，而成年人却总是带有明显的外国口音呢？这个项目调查了一个鲜为人知的事实--说第二语言的成年人也会“听到”外国口音。随着澳大利亚变得越来越多地使用多种语言，增加我们对人类语言学习能力的了解将通过改善教育做法、移民的工作前景以及最重要的是不同文化之间的理解来加强澳大利亚的社会和经济结构。

The majority of the world's population speaks two or more languages, yet we know little about how multiple languages are accommodated within a single speaker. Why do children appear to learn a second language 'like a native' but adults invariably develop a clearly perceptible foreign accent? This project investigates a little-known fact - adult second language speakers also 'hear' with a foreign accent. As Australia becomes increasingly multilingual increasing our understanding of the human capacity for language learning would strengthen Australia's social and economic fabric by leading to improved educational practices, work prospects for migrants and, most importantly, understanding between cultures.