8/12/2019 What is SLA

1/11

8/12/2019 What is SLA

2/11

SLA = Second Language

Acquisition

SLA refers to both:

1) the study of individuals and groups whoare learning a language subsequent to

learning their first one as young children,

and

2) the process of studying that language (L2)

8/12/2019 What is SLA

3/11

The scope of SLA

The scope of SLA includes informal L2

learning that takes place in naturalistic

contexts, formal L2 learningthat takesplace in classrooms, and L2 learning that

involves a mixture of these settings and

circumstances.

8/12/2019 What is SLA

4/11

The 3 questions of SLA

What? How? Why?

What exactly does the L2 learner come to know?

Howdoes the learner acquire this knowledge?

Whyare some learners more successful than

others?

To answer to this ? Its necessary to use a

multidisciplinary approach.

8/12/2019 What is SLA

5/11

SLA as a multidisciplinary

approach

As a result of efforts to answer the what,

how and whyquestions, SLA has emerged

as a field of study from within linguistics andpsychology (and their subfields of applied

linguistics, psycholinguistics,

sociolinguistics, and social psychology)

8/12/2019 What is SLA

6/11

Emphasis of each field:

Linguists: emphasize the differences and

similaritiesin the languages that are being

learned; and the linguistic competence

(knowledge) and linguistic performance(production) of learners at various stages of

the acquisition.

Psychologists and Psycholinguists:emphasize the mental processes involved in

acquisition, and the representation of

language(s) in the brain.

8/12/2019 What is SLA

7/11

Emphasis of each field:

Sociolinguists: Emphasize variability in learner

linguistic performance: context, difference

between groups separated by certain social

variables (ethnicity, status, gender, education,age), and difference between dialects(By

continent: Australian, Scottish, Brittish, etc.; by

culture: AAVE, Chicano, etc.; by region: Boston,

New York, California, Texas, etc.) Social psychologists: Emphasize group related

phenomena: identity and social motivation

8/12/2019 What is SLA

8/11

Why integrate these fields?

If not, you would end up like the 3 blind men of the

Asian Fable.

While each perception is correct individually, they

fail to provide an accurate picture of the total,because there is no integrated perspective.

8/12/2019 What is SLA

9/11

What is a second language (L2)?

1. Target language

2. Second language3. First language

4. Foreign language

a. Has no immediate or

necessary practical

application, might be used

later for travel or business.b. The aim or goal of language

learning

c. An officially or societally

dominant language needed

for education, employment or

other basic purposes.

d. Acquired during childhood

8/12/2019 What is SLA

10/11

L1: First language, native

language, mother tongue

Acquired before the age of three years as a

part of growing up among people who speak

the language.

8/12/2019 What is SLA

11/11

Multilinguism

Bilinguism

Simultaneous multilinguism

Sequential multilinguism