Phonological processing of second language phonemes: A selective deficit in a bilingual aphasic

We present a case study of a Russian-Hebrew bilingual transcortical sensory aphasic. In general, aphasic symptoms are similar in the 2 languages, with Hebrew being somewhat more impaired. However, the patient reveals a difference in her ability to perceive phonemes in the context of Hebrew words that is dependent on whether they are presented in a Russian or a native accent. This finding is interpreted as showing that a mediating mechanism that assimilates second language phonemes to native language phonological categories is differentially damaged. Implications for models of speech perception in general and second language phonetic perception in particular are discussed.