Chapter 3 Interlanguage Second Language Acquisition SLA 1

Chapter 3: Interlanguage Second Language Acquisition SLA 1

Interlanguage (Selinker, 1972) Definition Internal system that a learner has constructed at a single point in time (I. e. an interlanguage) Learners’ developing second language knowledge 2020/10/28 SLA 2

Interlanguage L 1 2020/10/28 interlanguage L 2 SLA 3

key questions What is the nature of the interlanguage continuum? What processes are responsible for interlanguage construction? What explanation is there for the fact that most learners do not achieve full target language competence? 2020/10/28 SLA 4

What is the nature of the interlanguage continuum/system? systematic rapid change, consists of a series of overlapping grammars complexification 2020/10/28 SLA 5

What process are responsible for interlanguage construction? language transfer of training strategies of L 2 learning strategies of L 2 communication overgeneralization 2020/10/28 SLA 6

Language transfer Characteristics of L 1 Example: *I very much like this book. …. . 2020/10/28 SLA 7

Transfer of training Features created by the teacher or textbook lead to acquisition with a non-native result Example: Overemphasis *I of English progressive form am admiring you. 2020/10/28 SLA 8

Overgeneralization Apply a linguistic rule to all kinds of context Example: Past tense –ed I walked to school. *I goed to school. 2020/10/28 SLA 9

Strategies of L 2 learning Learners’ attempt to commit aspects of L 2 to memory Example: Rote 2020/10/28 learning SLA 10

Strategies of communication Communication strategies are used when L 2 learners have difficulty expressing their meaning in L 2 Example: Avoidance 2020/10/28 SLA 11

Interlanguage-revisited Process System Language transfer from L 1 Interlanguage rule 1 Transfer of training Interlanguage rule 2 Overgeneralization of perceived L 2 pattern Interlanguage rule 3 Strategies of communication Strategies of L 2 learning 2020/10/28 Output of interlangua ge system Actual production and reception Interlanguage rule 4 Interlanguage rule 5 … …. …. SLA 12

What explanation is there for the fact that most learners do not achieve full L 2 competence? fossilization 2020/10/28 SLA 13

fossilization Interlanguage patterns which seems not change, even after extended exposure to or instruction in L 2 Example: -s addition when the subject is 3 rd person and singular 2020/10/28 SLA 14

A computational model Input ‘black box’ Intake L 2 knowledge output 2020/10/28 SLA 15

Exercise It is said that L 2 learner can achieve a nativelike proficiency, but never a full L 2 proficiency. What explanations are there for the fact? Give two theories and examples to support your arguments. 2020/10/28 SLA 16