Age Effects in the Acquisition of English Onset Clusters by Turkish Learners: An Optimality-Theoretic Approach offers a state-of-the-art examination of the acquisition of English onset clusters by Turkish learners, and considers the age effects in second language (L2) phonology. Unlike previous research trends, this research examines the developmental paths of L2 phonology, rather than the ‘end-state’ of acquisition. This in return will yield insightful data which appeals to both L2 theory and phonological theory. The L2 data presented here will be accounted for within a constraint-based framework known as Optimality Theory (OT).

The first two chapters provide an overview of first and second language phonology, and are also discussed under OT framework in chapter 3. Chapter 4 serves to highlight the syllable structure of Turkish and English and addresses a number of partially overlapping themes: synchronic and diachronic analysis of English and Turkish consonant inventory, loan phonology, and prosodic development. The remaining chapters provide a detailed presentation of the novel empirical results, along with a discussion of its wider implications in phonological theory and phonological acquisition.

Indispensable for students and researchers working in the areas of phonological theory and phonological acquisition, this volume will also appeal to applied linguists and speech language pathologists.