ABSTRACT
Studies on the phonological acquisition of a second language have tried to neatly demarcate phenomena caused by transfer from those considered to run along the lines of first language phonological acquisition and are thus supposed to arise from so-called developmental processes. By analyzing the data from the perspective of a nonlinear model of principles and parameters, new insights into the whole issue of Language 2 versus Language 1 and of transfer versus developmental processes are obtained. The lack of aspiration in target German aspirates can be explained by developmental processes as well as by transfer from Spanish. According to G. Meinhold and E. Stock, open syllables amount to 73.5% in Spanish and 33.0% in German. Spanish allows closed syllables, but with strong restrictions on the segments closing them. Andy pronounces many more voiced stops in German than in Spanish in the three places of articulation, which clearly indicates that the correct German pronunciation is often aimed at.
