scholarly journals Second Language Acquisition as a Discipline: A Historical Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 55-64
Author(s):  
Nabaraj Neupane
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
First Language ◽  
Developmental Phase ◽  
History Of ◽  
Diachronic Study ◽  
Background Phase ◽  
Separate Discipline

Second language acquisition (SLA) generates and tests the theories concerning the acquisition of languages other than first language (L1) in different contexts. Even if SLA is a nascent discipline, its history is remarkable and helpful to seek the answers to the questions that researchers are raising in the field of second language or foreign language. Based on this context, this article aims to recount the history of the burgeoning discipline that heavily draws from numerous disciplines like linguistics, psychology, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and so on. To achieve the objective, document analysis method has been used. The analysis and interpretation of the available documents exhibit that the traces of SLA were observed in the studies that address the issue of language transfer. Specifically, the diachronic study proves that the development of the discipline has undergone three evolving phases like background, formative, and developmental. The background phase caters for behaviourism, contrastive analysis hypothesis, and the attacks on the fundamental premises of behaviourism. The formative phase deals with Chomsky’s revolutionary steps, error analysis, interlanguane theory, morpheme order studies, and the Krashen’s monitor model that opened up the avenues for further studies of SLA. The developmental phase recounts various studies that have consolidated SLA as a separate discipline.

Raadsels van tweedetaalverwerving

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-159
Author(s):  
Jan H. Hulstijn
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Scientific Inquiry ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
First Language ◽  
Fast Acquisition ◽  
Developmental Sequences

This paper predicts that the study of second language acquisition, as a young discipline of scientific inquiry in its own right, faces a bright future, but only if its scholarly community critically re-examines some notions and assumptions that have too long been taken for granted. First, it is time to reconsider familiar dichotomies, such as second versus foreign language and natural versus instructed language learning. Furthermore, it is worth checking whether and to what extent the puzzling phenomena to be explained by language acquisition theories do really exist (such as uniformity and success and fast acquisition rates in first language acquisition and universal developmental sequences in second language acquisition). The paper furthermore pleas for a multidisciplinary approach to the explanation of the fundamental puzzles of first and second language acquisition and bilingualism, including bridging the divide between psycholinguistic and socio-cultural theories.

HANDBOOK OF SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION.William C. Ritchie & Tej K. Bhatia (Eds.). San Diego: Academic Press, 1996. Pp. vii + 758. $69.95 cloth.

1998 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-430
Author(s):  
Carolyn G. Madden
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Contact ◽  
Universal Grammar ◽  
First Language ◽  
Academic Press ◽  
History Of ◽  
Work Done ◽  
Theoretical Issues

Handbook of Second Language Acquisition is what its title suggests, a very thorough guide through the field of SLA. Indeed, the first chapter, an overview, is quite extensive in summarizing the history of SLA and the current issues in SLA. In addition to the lengthy overview, the handbook is divided into seven major sections: I. Research and theoretical issues in second language acquisition, II. Issues of maturation and modularity in second language acquisition, III. Second language speech and the influence of the first language, IV. Research methodology and applications, V. Modality and the linguistic environment in second language acquisition, VI. The neuropsychology of second language acquisition and use, and VII. Language contact and its consequences. These sections are thorough, well researched, and accessible. Section I includes one chapter by Gregg, which sets the tone and bias of the text with his claim that theoretical considerations that are central to SLA are those that address the issue of knowledge; that is, competence within the Chomskyan framework of Universal Grammar. Gregg makes it clear that he is not suggesting that other theories of acculturation or variation are uninteresting but rather that what is central to developing a theory of SLA is a theory that explains competence as the work done within the principles and parameter framework, not, for example, one that explains communicative competence. Section II, the core of the text, consists of six chapters on the various models, approaches, and frameworks of SLA. The first two chapters, by White and Flynn, support the principles and parameters framework for SLA and are followed by a well-reasoned challenge by Schachter.

On the Mutual Effect of L1 and L2 in SLA: A Brief Look at Cook's Multi-competence

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojtaba Teimourtash ◽  
Nima Shakouri
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
First Language ◽  
Mutual Effect ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
L1 And L2

Considering the notion of multi-competence coined by Cook (1991) calls on the necessity to revisit the stance of first language in foreign language teaching.  The use of mother tongue in second language acquisition (SLA) is widely criticized by many practitioners, notably Krashen (1981). However, more recently Widdowson (2003) also called for an explicitly bilingual approach. The present paper, though arguing for the use of L1 in L2 context, did not ignore the fact that L2 can exert inevitable effects on L1.

Didaktisko spēļu izmantošana latviešu valodas gramatikas mācības pirmajos posmos

2020 ◽  
pp. 208-225
Author(s):  
Jūlija Kuzņecova ◽  
Olga Lezina
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Learning Styles ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Educational Games ◽  
First Language ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Official Language

This article underlines the importance of learning grammatical rules of the Latvian language for Latvian as a second or foreign language. In fact, grammar is one of the four components of communicative competence: linguistic, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic competence. Aside from rules and tables, there are more effective and engaging ways to teach and learn grammar. One of them is through educational games. When language learners can apply grammar and use it in a fun way, there is a better chance that they will retain it all. They will be able to practice and internalize grammar phenomena extensively rather than just learning a collection of rules superficially. Not all games can be considered educational. It is important to recognize the purpose of a grammar game. The authors propose to consider several principles that can foster effective learning and improve student outcomes when teaching Latvian grammar to non-native speakers (both language minorities as well as foreigners): - consider the influence of students’ mother tongue, - offer wide selection of contemporary spoken grammar and vocabulary, - teach phases instead or separate words, - consider different learning styles to aid student learning (Auditory, Visual, and Kinesthetic Learning Styles), - utilize (or adopt) speech therapy methods. The authors present educational games for teaching such Latvian grammar phenomena as noun-adjective agreement, verb conjugation, use of prepositions, forming the comparative degree of adjectives, and more. Grammar games for learning English do not only motivate, they also promote the idea of competition, thus increasing learner attention, memory, as well as speaking, listening and cooperation skills. Games are beneficial for any age groups. They can be used with young learners who study Latvian as their first language, as well as Latvian as a second or foreign language students learning Latvian in preschools, schools and other educational institutions. The process of language acquisition starts in the first year of a child’s life and, in some cases, continues through their lifetime. The first language or native language, also known as a mother tongue, is the language children learn first from their parents. In the modern world, it is common that a person’s first language differs from the official language of their homeland. Under the circumstances, children must acquire two languages in the very first years of their lives. The representatives of ethnic minorities in Latvia study Latvian as a second language. This means that Latvian is not their first language; it is the official language of the state, the compulsory language to study. Latvian as a second language is being taught in minority-language schools across Latvia. It was traditionally believed that there is a prominent difference between second language acquisition and foreign language learning process. Therefore, different teaching principles and methods are applied. But in recent years, these fields have come closer together.

Perceived foreign accent in first language attrition and second language acquisition: The impact of age of acquisition and bilingualism—ERRATUM

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 417-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
HOLGER HOPP ◽  
MONIKA S. SCHMID
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Open Access ◽  
First Language ◽  
Age Of Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Accent ◽  
Language Attrition ◽  
First Language Attrition ◽  
The Impact

The open access copyright line contained within this page was not included in the original FirstView article or the print article contained within this issue. We sincerely regret these errors and any problems they may have caused.

Long-distance wh-movement and long-distance wh-movement avoidance in L2 English: Evidence from French and Bulgarian speakers

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolay Slavkov
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
First Language ◽  
Processing Load ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Canadian French ◽  
Equivalent Length ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
L1 Acquisition

This article investigates spoken productions of complex questions with long-distance wh-movement in the L2 English of speakers whose first language is (Canadian) French or Bulgarian. Long-distance wh-movement is of interest as it can be argued that it poses difficulty in acquisition due to its syntactic complexity and related high processing load. Adopting the derivational complexity hypothesis, which has so far been applied to long-distance (LD) wh-movement in L1 acquisition and child second language acquisition, I argue that adult L2 learners also show evidence that questions with LD wh-movement are often replaced by alternative utterances with lower derivational complexity. I propose that such utterances, which are sometimes of equivalent length and with similar meaning to the targeted LD wh-structures, are avoidance strategies used by the learners as an intermediate acquisition resource. That is, such strategies are used as an escape-hatch from the derivational complexity of LD wh-movement. Overall, the results of this research indicate that the link between the number and complexity of derivational steps in a given structure is a fruitful area with strong potential in the second language acquisition field.

scholarly journals Christopher Brumfit Award 2014

2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-433
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Quality Of Presentation

The Editor and Board of Language Teaching are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2014 Christopher Brumfit thesis award is Dr Hilde van Zeeland. The thesis was selected by an external panel of judges based on its significance to the field of second language acquisition, second or foreign language learning and teaching, originality and creativity and quality of presentation.

Adult And Child Learning Second Language Differences

2021 ◽  
Vol 03 (01) ◽  
pp. 38-44
Author(s):  
Dilrabo Babakulova ◽  
◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Differences ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Child Learning

Second Language Acquisition (SLA) is one of the debatable topics regarding to speed and effectiveness in adults or children foreign language learning. There have been several researches to solve the issue; however, the results are different and contradicting. In this research two volunteers participated in three staged survey which showed children’s priority in acquiring foreign language in a short period of time.

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