Second language acquisition-linguistic.ppt

Second language acquisition

1. Second Language Acquisition Reconciling theories summary 1- 2.2 Teacher: Cristina Espinoza Members: Luis Achahuanco, Lorena Ospina, Miriam Lazaro, Sonia Quispe, Joana Coloma

2. 1 INTRODUCTION According to Larsen- Freeman and Long: At least 40 theories of Second Language Acquisition have been proposed. Language learning is not a linear process, like any other type of learning. Cannot be predictable as many models have implied. Many theories have been developed to explain SLA, but most are about acquisition of syntactic structures and ignore other important aspects. Syntatic structures: (Linguistics) the branch of linguistics that deals with the grammatical arrangement of words and morphemes in the sentences of a language or of languages in general. This document basically describes the main theories. (SLA as an emergent phenomenon afterwards)

3. 2. Second Language Acquisition theories Second language acquisition theory is divided into eight parts: 1.- Behaviorism. 2.- Acculturation. 3.- Hypothesis of universal grammar. 4.- Understanding hypothesis. 5.- Interaction hypothesis. 6.- Exit hypothesis. 7.- Sociocultural theory. 8.- Connectionism.

4. 2.1 Behaviorism This theory focuses on stimulus-response (S-R) and understands language as a set of structure and acquisition as a matter of habit formation; ignoring the internal mechanisms that happen inside the brain when learning takes place. Besides, it describes learning acquisition as an observable process by means of stimulus and response, that is to say, mechanical repetition. This theory also helps to analyze errors; Its main focuses are interlingua and intralingua.

5. Larsen-Freeman and Long consider that S-R models offer explanations of SLA, except for pronunciation and the memorization of formulas. This view of language learning gave birth to research on contrastive analysis, especially error analysis having as the main focus the interference of first language on the target language. It also gave birth to interlanguage studies, sent in other SLA perspectives as the concern of the area has been mainly on the acquisition of specific language structures.

6. 2.2 Acculturation As some experts said is the process of learning where we can incorporate the values, beliefs, language, customs and mannerisms of the new country immigrants and their families are living in, including behaviors that affect health such as dietary habits, W.I. Thomas and Florian Znaniecki were the ones who proposed this theory A cculturation is also the transfer of values and customs from one group to another. These two dimensions are crossed, four acculturation strategies are defined as the following though: Assimilation Separation Integration Marginalization