Multilingualism, L1 attrition and the concept of native speaker [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von: Susan Claire Dostert

Multilingualism, L1 attrition and the concept of ‘native speaker’ Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Doktors der Philosophie (Dr. phil.) durch die Philosophische Fakultät der Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf vorgelegt von: Susan Claire Dostert Düsseldorf Matrikel-Nr. 946339 April 2009 E-Mail: dostert@phil-fak.uni-duesseldorf.de Disputation: 14. Juli 20091 Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to thank Monika Schmid, Conny Opitz, and all the other members of the L1 attrition graduate network who, over the years I’ve been working on this project, have supported me with their knowledge and friendship and generally motivated and helped me to carry on even when things weren’t running so smoothly. Second, but by no means last, I would like to thank my family, in particular my daughter Lisa and my fiancé Harvey for believing in me, and for leaving me to it when I needed peace and quiet to work but then also for being there when I needed company. Finally, of course, I would like to acknowledge and thank the ‘principal players’, namely all of the 64 individuals who were good enough to take the time to complete the questionnaires and talk to me (as well as Tina, Conny and Leila who persuaded friends and colleagues to volunteer, and often put me up and fed me at the same time), without whom this entire project would not have been feasible.