CHAPTER 2 CONCEPTUAL MAP

THE ACQUISITION AND ROLE OF THE FIRST LANGUAGE

First language process

Contrastive and error analysis ​​​​

Interlanguage

L1 acquisition L2 learning compared

Behaviourist theory: The learning is based on the formation of a series of habits children imitate from the people around them. (Skinners)

Acquisition or learning order:

All learners, no matter their language backgrounds, follow a path in their learning process.

Success in language learning:

All subjects in the L1 learning process, succeed in gaining a command of the language after a period of time.

L2 learners may reach a stage in which they do not make any progress or development. Fossilization (Selinker 1972)

Objectives

FL learners need to communicate with people to establish a connection with the outside world to satisfy physical or psychological needs.

L2 learners needs and interests will vary from one learner to another.

Developmental: Result of childrens interaction with their environment. Interaction between perceptual cognitive capacities and linguistic experiences. (Piaget)

The nature of input:

In L1 learning, input comes from parents, relatives, family, friends.

In L2 is obtained from different sorts of channels.

Cognitives of effective factors:

They play an important role in SLA. Attitudes and motivations are crucial factors in SLA.

Time devoted to the task of learning

In the L1 situation, learning takes place spontaneously.

In the L2, this will vary according to each learner, number of class hours, opportunities for language practice, etc.

Every individual manages to learn his/her first language

Term used by Selinker (1972)

Structured system cunstructed by the learner at any given stage in his learning development.

Series of interlocking systems which form the learners "built-in-syllabus" (Corder)

Contrastive Analysis

Lado (1957) According to CA, L2 errors can be predicted by identifying the differences between the target language and the learner´s L1.

The CA approache was modifies to take account of avoidance (a degree of similarities between the L1 and L2 items) and the multifactorial nature of learner error.

Nativist: Language developes in the child in the same way as other biological functions. Acquisition is innately determine. (Chomsky)

Error Analysis

Predicts that transfer will take place from the first to the second language.

Negative transfer: When there is a proactive inhibition.

Positive transfer: when the first and the second language habits are the same. Similarities promote quick and easy learning.

REFERENCE:

Universidad IEXPRO (s.f.) Second Language Acquisition. Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México.