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Recent Research in Language Learning Studies: Promises and Problems
Author(s) -
Schachter Jacquelyn
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
language learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.882
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1467-9922
pISSN - 0023-8333
DOI - 10.1111/0023-8333.00059
Subject(s) - second language acquisition , linguistics , syntax , psychology , subconscious , language acquisition , perspective (graphical) , second language , notice , comprehension approach , cognitive psychology , computer science , cognitive science , language education , artificial intelligence , mathematics education , medicine , philosophy , alternative medicine , pathology , political science , law
From the perspective of a psycholinguist, I discuss 3 leading questions that have arisen from a number of foundational, descriptive SLA studies: First, considering the language to be learned, why are certain L2 constructions learnable and others not? What is it about these constructions which makes them so difficult to acquire? Second, in considering input requirements, can we say that adult learners can take advantage of metalinguistic information about the language and negative input? Do adults differ from child learners in the L2 input requirements? And finally, is focal attention required for the acquisition of the syntax and the phonological rules of a target language? Do we need to notice in order to learn, or can we learn subconsciously? I review recent studies and make suggestions for further investigations.