Ultimate attainment in Spanish L2 acquisition

The focus of this chapter is the end state of second language (L2) acquisition, or ultimate attainment. Unlike in first language (L1) acquisition, ultimate attainment in the L2 is typically non-native, although it can range from fully native, as in monolingual native speakers, to near-native, as in many highly fluent bilinguals. Studies of ultimate attainment tend to focus on the very advanced stages of proficiency ranging from advanced to near-natives. The chapter also focuses on the notion of age effects in L2 acquisition, followed by a discussion of recent studies on the limits and possibilities of native-like competence in L2 Spanish. Finally, even though inability to reach native-like competence in an L2 is inextricably linked to a late start in adult L2 learners, there is a growing body of research in Spanish showing that non-native outcomes are also possible in L1 acquisition and L1 attrition in a dual-language environment.