Foundations of Second Language Acquisition

Foundations of Second Language Acquisition

1. The world of second languages

   • Multilingualism
     • Use two or more languages
       • A reasonable estimate is that at least half of the world's population is in this category
         • Multicompetence
           • The compound state of a mind with two (or more) grammar.
   • Bilingualism
     • Use two languages
       • Present in every country of the word
   • Monolingualims
     • Use onle one languague
       • It´s difficult find a society that is monolingual

2. The nature of language learning

   • On average children have mastered most of the distinctive sounds of their first language before they are three years old
   • If young children hear and respond to two or more languages in their environment, the result will be simultaneous multilingualism
   • The role of natural ability
     • A natural ability or innate capacity to learn language.
       • •There is a cut-off age for L1 acquisition, beyond which it can never be complete.
       • •Acquisition of L1 is not simply a facet of general intelligence.
   • The role of social experience

3. L1 versus L2 learning

   • Initial state
     • Includes the underlying knowledge about language structures and principles that is in learners’ heads at the very start of L1 or L2 acquisition
   • Intermediate states
     • covers all stages of basic language development.
     • Positive transfer
       • When an L1 structure or rule is used in an L2 utterance and that use is appropriate or “correct” in the L2
     • Negative transfer
       • When an L1 structure or rule is used in an L2 utterance and that use is inappropriate and considered an “error.”
   • Final state
     • Which is the outcome of L1 and L2 learning.

4. The logical problem of language learning

   • Children’s knowledge of language goes beyond what could be learned from the input they receive
   • Constraints and principles cannot be learned
   • Universal patterns of development cannot be explained by language-specific input

5. Frameworks for SLA

   • Linguistic
     • Internal
     • External
   • Psychological
     • Languages and the brain
     • Learning processes
     • Individual differences
   • Social
     • Microsocial
     • Macrolsocia