New directions in second language pragmatics, J.César Félix‐Brasdefer & Rachel L.Shively. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter Mouton, 2021. xviii+342 pp. ISBN: 978‐3‐11‐072163‐8

Eye-trackers are becoming increasingly widespread as a tool to investigate second language (L2) acquisition. Unfortunately, clear standards for methodology—including font size, font type, and placement of interest areas—are not yet available. Although many researchers stress the need for ecological validity—that is, the simulation of natural reading conditions—it may not be prudent to use such a design to investigate new directions in eye-tracking research, and particularly in research involving small lexical items such as articles. In this study, we examine whether two different screen layouts can lead to different results in an eye-tracking study on the L2 acquisition of Italian gender. The results of an experiment with an ecologically valid design are strikingly different than the results of an experiment with a design tailored to track eye movements to articles. We conclude that differences in screen layout can have significant effects on results and that it is crucial that researchers report screen layout information.

Download Full-text

First and Second Language Pragmatics in Third Language Oral and Written Modalities

Foreign Language Annals ◽

10.1111/j.1944-9720.2011.01115.x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 80-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Dale A. Koike ◽

Denise T. L. Palmiere

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

Third Language ◽

Second Language Pragmatics

Download Full-text

Second Language Pragmatics

Linguistics ◽

10.1093/obo/9780199772810-0269 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Soo Jung Youn

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

Social Interaction ◽

Communicative Competence ◽

Target Language ◽

Pragmatic Competence ◽

Interlanguage Pragmatics ◽

Research Issues ◽

Theoretical Approaches ◽

L2 Pragmatics ◽

Second Language Pragmatics

The field of second language (L2) pragmatics surveys a range of research issues on how L2 learners learn to use a target language in context-appropriate manners. In the late 1970s, the field of interlanguage pragmatics emerged from cross-cultural pragmatic research. The field has now moved beyond comparisons of different pragmatic norms or simply describing language use. With nearly four decades of research, second language pragmatics has now become an independent field. Informed by different theories, the scope and definitions of L2 pragmatic competence have been expanded. An accumulative body of research illuminates underlying mechanisms and processes of L2 pragmatic development and what L2 pragmatic competence entails. In part, the increasing interest in interlanguage pragmatics reflects the notion that language competence entails the ability to use language in context, in addition to grammar. L2 pragmatics is also situated in a larger domain of language teaching, reflecting a call for more context-specific and more dynamic views of L2 communicative competence. In addition to formal aspects of language (e.g., grammar), L2 communicative competence entails the ability to engage in social interaction and perform speech acts in a contextually appropriate way. This article focuses on providing selective references, since the entire literature cannot be encapsulated in an article-length format. This article is organized around six topics: (1) Theoretical Approaches, (2) Analytical Objects of L2 Pragmatics, (3) Data Elicitation Methods, (4) Instructed L2 Pragmatics, (5) Assessing L2 Pragmatics, and (6) L2 Pragmatics in Diverse Social Interaction.

Download Full-text