1 Second Language Acquisition Introduction Roger Gass, S. M., & Selinker, L. (2008). Second language acquisition: An introductory course (3rd ed.). New York: Routledge.

2 What is SLA? The acquisition of a language beyond the native language The acquisition of a language beyond the native language Relatively young interdisciplinary field: linguistics, psychology, psycholinguistics, sociology, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, conversational analysis, and education. Relatively young interdisciplinary field: linguistics, psychology, psycholinguistics, sociology, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, conversational analysis, and education.

3 Why need to understand how SLA is learned? Linguistics (the study of the nature of the human mind) Linguistics (the study of the nature of the human mind) The determination of linguistics constraints on the formation of second language grammars. The determination of linguistics constraints on the formation of second language grammars. Language pedagogy Language pedagogy Learning to express communicative needs Learning to express communicative needs Expectation that teachers have about students (p.3) Expectation that teachers have about students (p.3)

4 Why need to understand how SLA is learned? Cross-cultural communication and language use Cross-cultural communication and language use our stereotypes of a culture influences learners to learn its language (p. 4) our stereotypes of a culture influences learners to learn its language (p. 4) ex. “ barking at the wrong tree ” ex. “ barking at the wrong tree ” Language policy and language planning Language policy and language planning English Only Movement in the US (California) English Only Movement in the US (California) Bilingual program in Taiwan Bilingual program in Taiwan

5 Which field should SLA belong to? Humanities Humanities Social Sciences Social Sciences

6 Language Terms in SLA Native Language (NL): L1 Native Language (NL): L1 Target Language (TL): L1/L2 Target Language (TL): L1/L2 Second Language Acquisition (SLA): L2 Second Language Acquisition (SLA): L2 Foreign Language Learning : L2 Foreign Language Learning : L2 Native Speaker (NS) Native Speaker (NS) Non-Native Speaker (NNS) Non-Native Speaker (NNS)

7 Nature of Language Sound systems (Phonology) Sound systems (Phonology) Sound systems in different languages Sound systems in different languages possible vs. not possible sounds: Thai, Spanish vs Chinese possible vs. not possible sounds: Thai, Spanish vs Chinese Very vs. Wery Very vs. Wery Pace of the language: Native-like Pace of the language: Native-like Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers; A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked; If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked? Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers; A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked; If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked? Intonation of the language Intonation of the language

8 Nature of Language Syntax: the knowledge of grammar rules Syntax: the knowledge of grammar rules Prescriptive grammar: grammar we learn in school Prescriptive grammar: grammar we learn in school Descriptive grammar: grammar we actually use Descriptive grammar: grammar we actually use A: Mom, I broke the glassy vase on the TV. A: Mom, I broke the glassy vase on the TV. B: What did you break? B: What did you break? You broke WHAT? You broke WHAT? Deep Structure vs. Surface Structure Deep Structure vs. Surface Structure Good grammar knowledge Good grammar knowledge =\= Good language =\= Good language

9 Nature of Language Morphology and the lexicon: the study of word formation Morphology and the lexicon: the study of word formation Morpheme: Affixes (prefixes, infixes, suffixes) and root (p. 11) Morpheme: Affixes (prefixes, infixes, suffixes) and root (p. 11) Semantics: the study of meaning Semantics: the study of meaning Knowledge of meaning of words Knowledge of meaning of words Knowledge of reference of words Knowledge of reference of words a cup of coffee vs. a glass of coffee a cup of coffee vs. a glass of coffee He married a girl with red hair. He married a girl with red hair. With red hair he married a girl. With red hair he married a girl.

10 Nature of Language Pragmatics: the way in which NS use language in context. Pragmatics: the way in which NS use language in context. Related to cultural customs (p.13) Related to cultural customs (p.13) ex. thank you (danke and bitte) in German ex. thank you (danke and bitte) in German

11 The Nature of NNS Knowledge Interlanguage Interlanguage For example: For example: Fossilization Fossilization “… to become permanently established in the interlanguage of a second language learner in a form that I deviant from the target-language norm and that continues to appear in performance regardless of further exposure to the target language ” (Flexner & Hanck, 1988, p. 755) “… to become permanently established in the interlanguage of a second language learner in a form that I deviant from the target-language norm and that continues to appear in performance regardless of further exposure to the target language ” (Flexner & Hanck, 1988, p. 755)

12 Discussions