In this article a description is given of an experiment that aimed at bringing to light in what way subtitled foreign television programmes are processed by non-balanced bilingual viewers. It is shown that at least some processing of the spoken language takes place. This suggests that viewers 'use' the foreign language, even though they may not be aware of it. Thus, foreign television programmes may be helpful in the maintenance of foreign language skills.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Andersen, R.1983: Introduction: a language acquisition interpretation of pidginization and creolization. In Andersen, R., editor, Pidginization and creolization as language acquisition , Rowley, Massachusetts: Newbury House.
2.
De Bot, K. and Weltens, B.1985: Recapitulation, regression and language loss. Internal Report Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen. Submitted for publication.
3.
Dollerup, C.1974: On subtitles in television programmes. Babel, International Journal of Translation20:197-202.
4.
Krashen, S.1982: Principles and practice in second language acquisition . Oxford: Pergamon Press.
5.
Lambert, R. and Freed, B. editors, 1982: The loss of language skills . Rowley, Massachusetts: Newbury House.
6.
Lambert, W., Boehler, I. and Sidoti, I.1981: Choosing the languages of subtitles and spoken dialogues for media presentation: implications for second language education. Applied Psycholinguistics2:133-48.
7.
Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS)1977: Ondertitelen of nasynchroniseren. Intern Bulletin Kijk- en Luisteronderzoek NOS B77-090. Hilversum.
8.
Peters, F.1974: Norwegian TV - a continuing reading program. Journal of Reading18:200-202.
9.
Schaller, H.-W.1978: Fremdsprachenunterricht und Fernsehen?Neusprachliche Mitteilungen31:224-32.
10.
Van Parreren, C.1967: Psychologische factoren bij het verwerven van de woordenschat van een vreemde taal. Levende Talen239:159-69.
11.
1971 : Psychologie van het leren. Deventer: Van Loghum Slaterus.
12.
Wegner, H. and Look, R.1977: The use of subtitled films with a frame reduction plate in foreign language teaching. NALLD-Journal Fall1977: 29-35.
13.
Weltens, B.1986: The attrition of foreign-language skills: a literature review. Applied Linguistics7: forthcoming.
