Bilingual children as “laboratories” for studying contact outcomes: Development of perfective aspect

What is it about?

This study explores the similarities between how bilingual Cantonese-English speaking children learn language and how creole languages (new languages formed from a mix of others) develop. Specifically, we look at how the word "already" is used to signal that an action is finished. This use of "already" is common in diverse languages. When languages like English mix with languages from Southeast Asia, "already" often becomes the way to express completed actions. We'll examine how the language changes happening with the bilingual children are like the process of "decreolization" (where a creole language starts to resemble one of its original source languages). Studying these bilingual children helps us understand how contact between languages shapes new ways of speaking, even when those changes are unpredictable.

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Why is it important?

This work is important because it shows how languages constantly evolve, especially when different languages mix. It highlights that bilingual kids are amazing language innovators and don't simply copy the speech of adults. By studying how bilingual kids speak, we can unlock insights into how new languages (like creoles) form. Ultimately, understanding these language changes is a key part of understanding what makes us human.