The bottleneck of second language acquisition
The bottleneck of second language acquisition
Explaining why some linguistic features and constructions are easy or difficult to acquire in a second language has become a prominent current concern in generative second language acquisition (SLA) research. Based on a comparison of findings on the L2 acquisition of functional morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, the Bottleneck Hypothesis argues that functional morphemes and their features are the bottleneck of L2 acquisition; acquisition of universal syntax, semantics and pragmatics flows smoothly (Slabakova 2006, 2008, 2013). The article surveys experimental studies supporting this view. A pedagogical implication of this model is discussed, namely, that an enhanced focus on practicing grammar in language classrooms is beneficial to learners.
syntax, semantics, pragmatics, functional morphology, bottleneck
543-559
Slabakova, Roumyana
1bda11ce-ce3d-4146-8ae3-4a486b6f5bde
July 2014
Slabakova, Roumyana
1bda11ce-ce3d-4146-8ae3-4a486b6f5bde
Slabakova, Roumyana
(2014)
The bottleneck of second language acquisition.
Foreign Language Teaching and Research, 46 (4), .
Abstract
Explaining why some linguistic features and constructions are easy or difficult to acquire in a second language has become a prominent current concern in generative second language acquisition (SLA) research. Based on a comparison of findings on the L2 acquisition of functional morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, the Bottleneck Hypothesis argues that functional morphemes and their features are the bottleneck of L2 acquisition; acquisition of universal syntax, semantics and pragmatics flows smoothly (Slabakova 2006, 2008, 2013). The article surveys experimental studies supporting this view. A pedagogical implication of this model is discussed, namely, that an enhanced focus on practicing grammar in language classrooms is beneficial to learners.
Text
Bottleneck Hypothesis submission (2).pdf
- Accepted Manuscript
Text
Chinese Journal BH 2014.pdf
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Published date: July 2014
Keywords:
syntax, semantics, pragmatics, functional morphology, bottleneck
Organisations:
Modern Languages and Linguistics
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 367089
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/367089
PURE UUID: e15f849e-709e-42f4-9579-8b9b2457465b
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Date deposited: 22 Jul 2014 11:39
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:48
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