Influences of the Native Language on Young Children's Learning a Second Language ― Phonological awareness in Chinese children―

The present study discussed influences of the native language on young Chinese and Japanese children's learning English in terms of differences in phonological structures, rhythmic categories, the acquisition order, phonological awareness, and phonological working memory. It is well known that phonological awareness is closely related to reading skill in children who are learning to read an alphabetic script such as English. The present study reviewed research concerning phonological awareness and reading skill of Cantonese speakers and Putonghua speakers in China. Putonghua speakers learn a phonological script, known as Pinyin, before they are taught to read any Chinese characters. The use of Pinyin seems to make Putonghua phonologically more salient as an adjunct in character and word reading, which may also be related with learning of English.