The Effects Of Learning A Third Language On Language Aptitude

Language aptitude is one of the individual differences that predict language achievement effectively.It has been studied extensively in the field of Second Language Acquisition(SLA),but there have been very few studies exploring the relationship between language aptitude and multilingualism.However,with a rising interest in Third Language Acquisition or multilingualism,more and more studies have found a close relationship between language aptitude and learning of multiple languages.This relationship plays an important role in both theories and practice of foreign language teaching.Complying with the cutting edge research trend,this study aims to investigate the specific relationship between language aptitude and learning of a third language(L3).Through mainly comparing the language aptitude between L2 and L3 learners and that between L3 learners learning Japanese and L3 learners learning French,this study attempts to answer the following questions:1)Are there any differences in language aptitude and its components as measured by the LLAMA test between L2 and L3 learners?If yes,what are the differences?2)Are there any differences in language aptitude and its components as measured by the LLAMA test between learners of different L3s(French vs.Japanese)?If yes,what are the differences?3)Do L3 learners have different perceptions on positive language interaction based on the PPLI questionnaire?If yes,what are the differences?4)Is there a correlation between language aptitude and perceived positive language interaction?87 English major students from a key university in China participated in this study,among whom were 41 L2 learners and 46 L3 learners.All the participants’mother tongue is Chinese and their L2 is English.L3 learners were divided into French and Japanese subgroups,23 in each group.The LLAMA test,which is language-independent,was used to measure their language aptitude.The author also devised a questionnaire—Perceived Positive Language Interaction(PPLI)to investigate positive language interactions perceived by L3 learners.The results of the LLAMA test revealed that L3 learners have significantly higher language aptitude,specifically phonemic coding ability than L2 learners.Additionally,learning Japanese as an L3 showed more benefits on associative memory ability than learning French.The results of PPLI questionnaire indicated that learners of different L3s varied in their perception of language interactions.French learners benefited more from interactions between L2 and L3,while Japanese learners perceived more effects of both L1 and L2 on L3 learning and closer language distance among three languages.What’s more,language aptitude had a correlation with learners’ perception of positive language interactions.Based on the research findings,the author proposed that learning an L3 helps improve one’s language aptitude.Moreover,the typology of the target language may have an impact on aptitude component.Theoretically,the present study provides some empirical evidence for the argument that language aptitude is dynamic.Empirically,it has enriched third language research in China.