Voicing in Spanish and English Knowledge Transfer

Voicing in Spanish and English Knowledge Transfer

Louis Ferroli & Timothy Shanahna

A study investigated spelling error patterns in native Spanish-speaking students of English as a Second Language to determine the degree to which errors can be attributed to phonological patterns. Specifically, it examined (1) which spellings can be attributed to differences in voicedness of consonants, and (2) whether the voicedness can be used to identify a progression of spelling strategies that characterize Spanish-influenced English spelling. Subjects were 47 second- and third-grade children in a transitional bilingual education program just beginning to receive English instruction.