The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of Rod Ellis's 1997 publication, "Second Language Acquisition," part of the Oxford Introductions to Language Study series. This book targets novice language instructors, offering them a foundational and accessible introduction to the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA). Ellis, a distinguished scholar in SLA and foreign language education, leverages his extensive experience through a consistent organizational structure across ten chapters. Each chapter employs a survey approach, presenting a concise overview of the main themes, fundamental principles, and key concepts within a specific area of SLA. The inclusion of relevant readings, excerpts from specialized SLA literature, and a glossary of technical terms ensures that readers are not only introduced to basic concepts but also guided towards more advanced scholarly resources. This comprehensive approach ensures a clear and well-structured learning experience for newcomers to SLA.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Second Language Acquisition: An Overview
- The Field of SLA: Objectives and Key Concepts
- Learner Variability and Interdisciplinary Connections
- Methodology, Learner Language Descriptions, and Explanations
- Learner Language: Investigating L2 Acquisition
- Error Analysis as a Primary Tool
- Mistakes vs. Errors: Categorization and Significance
- Developmental Patterns in Learner Language
- Variability in Learner Language: Linguistic, Situational, and Psycholinguistic Factors
- Interlanguage: A Dynamic Mental System
- Behaviorist and Mentalist Learning Theories
- Interlanguage as a Permeable Mental Grammar
- Input as a Social Construct
- Social Dimensions of Interlanguage
- Stylistic Continuity and Accommodation Theory
- Acculturation Paradigm: Social and Psychological Distance
- Social Identity and Investment in L2 Acquisition
- Discourse Features of Interlanguage
- Systematicity in Discourse Norm Acquisition
- Interactionist Theories: Input, Interaction, and Meaning Negotiation
- The Role of Output in L2 Acquisition
- Psycholinguistic Aspects of Interlanguage
- L1 Transfer: Positive and Negative Transfer, Avoidance, and Overuse
- Consciousness and the Role of L1 in L2 Acquisition
- Processing Operations: Operating Principles and Processing Constraints
- Communication Strategies: Avoiding, Substituting, and Borrowing
- Interplay between SLA and Linguistic Aspects
- Influence of Target Language Structure on L2 Acquisition
- Universal Grammar: Innate Principles Underlying Human Language
- Learnability of Input: Poverty of Stimulus, Positive and Negative Evidence
- Markedness: Unmarked and Marked Structures in Typological and Chomskyan Linguistics
- The Nature of L2 Acquisition: Innate Language Faculty or General Cognitive Abilities?
- Individual Learner Variability in L2 Acquisition
- Language Aptitude: The Inherent Capacity for Successful L2 Acquisition
- Motivation in L2 Learning: Instrumental, Integrative, Resultative, and Intrinsic
- Learning Strategies: Cognitive and Metacognitive Approaches
- Instruction and L2 Acquisition
- Impact of Grammar Instruction on Interlanguage Development
- Tailoring Instruction to Individual Learner Differences
- Effectiveness of Strategy Training for Learner Autonomy
- Form-Focused Instruction: Effectiveness and Potential Advantages
- Learner-Instruction Matching and the Importance of Individual Differences
- Strategy Training: Empowering Learners for Effective Acquisition
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The book aims to provide a comprehensive and accessible introduction to Second Language Acquisition (SLA) for novice language instructors and those seeking a foundational understanding of the field. It explores the central themes, core principles, and key concepts within various domains of SLA, drawing upon insights from diverse theoretical perspectives.
- The nature and processes of second language acquisition
- The role of learner language and interlanguage in L2 development
- The interplay between social, psychological, and linguistic factors in SLA
- The influence of instruction and individual learner differences on L2 acquisition
- The ongoing debate and diverse perspectives within the field of SLA
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Chapter 1 introduces the core tenets of SLA research, defining the field's objectives and highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of the subject. It emphasizes the importance of learner variability and explores various methodologies used in L2 acquisition research.
- Chapter 2 delves into the analysis of learner language, explaining the significance of error analysis and categorizing errors as either global or local. It discusses the developmental patterns observed in learner language, highlighting the systematic and predictable nature of errors.
- Chapter 3 presents a concise overview of behaviorist and mentalist learning theories, introducing the concept of interlanguage as a dynamic mental system representing a learner's developing knowledge of the L2.
- Chapter 4 examines the social dimensions of interlanguage, exploring theories such as Tarone and Giles' concepts of stylistic continuity and accommodation, Schumann's acculturation paradigm, and Peirce's ideas on social identity and investment in L2 acquisition.
- Chapter 5 focuses on the discourse features of interlanguage, highlighting the systematicity observed in the acquisition of discourse norms and introducing interactionist theories of L2 acquisition, emphasizing the role of input and interaction in the learning process.
- Chapter 6 delves into the psycholinguistic aspects of interlanguage, exploring L1 transfer, the role of consciousness, processing operations, and communication strategies. It examines contrasting theoretical perspectives on L1 transfer and the debate regarding the concept of consciousness in L2 acquisition.
- Chapter 7 explores the interplay between SLA and linguistic aspects, highlighting the influence of target language structure on L2 acquisition and discussing the concept of Universal Grammar (UG) and its implications for L2 acquisition.
- Chapter 8 tackles individual learner variability in L2 acquisition, exploring three key psychological dimensions: language aptitude, motivation, and learning strategies. It examines the various components of language aptitude, different types of motivation, and the range of learning strategies employed by L2 learners.
- Chapter 9 examines the interplay between instruction and L2 acquisition, exploring the impact of grammar instruction on learner interlanguage development, the importance of tailoring instruction to individual learner differences, and the effectiveness of strategy training to enhance learner autonomy.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and focus topics of the text include: Second Language Acquisition (SLA), learner language, interlanguage, error analysis, behaviorist theories, mentalist theories, social dimensions of interlanguage, interactionist theories, input, output, psycholinguistic aspects of interlanguage, L1 transfer, consciousness, communication strategies, linguistic aspects of interlanguage, Universal Grammar (UG), individual learner variability, language aptitude, motivation, learning strategies, instruction, form-focused instruction, learner-instruction matching, and strategy training.
- Quote paper
- Belyihun Muchie (Author), 2024, Exploring the Basics of Second Language Acquisition. A Review of Rod Ellis's Pioneering Guide for Novice Language Instructors, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1462347
