APPLIED LINGUISTICS: AREAS OF STUDY WITHIN THE

DISCIPLINE
O An understanding of how languages are learnt will lead
1.

2.
3.
4.

to more effective teaching practices. Four main areas:

Second language acquisition (SLA): focuses on
knowledge and use of a language by children and
adults who already know at least one language
Psycholinguistics
Sociolinguistics
Language learner

SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

O SLA research is informed by linguistic and

psycholinguistic theories. The main difference is the

role of internal and external factors in the learning
process (linguistic, psycholinguistic & interactionist
theories)
O Linguistic theories
1. Universal Grammar (Chomsky, 1968): children must
have an innate language faculty or language
acquisition device (LAD). It refers to a module of the
brain pre-programmed to process language, so no
need for instruction or feedback on errors

SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

2.The Monitor
Theory

acquisition and
learning. The
former is an
unconscious
process, similar to
L1 acquisition. The
latter is a conscious
process in which
attention is
directed to rules
and forms of the
language. Thus, the
learner monitors
his/her speech to
focus on accuracy
of message.

SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

O Psycholinguistic theories
1.

2.

Behaviourism: language learning is a process of

imitation, practice, reinforcement and habit formation.
Chomsky criticized this theory claiming that children
can produce novel and creative language
Cognitive theories: claim that language acquisition
requires effort and attention. Key issues are controlled
processing (+ mental effort and attention) and
automatic processing (- mental effort and attention)

SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

O Through repeated practice, controlled knowledge

becomes automatic, so attention can be much more

focused on content.
O These theories explain why learners in initial phases of
learning put so much effort into producing language.
O Interactionist theories: language learning takes place
through social interaction -> interlocutors adjust their
speech to make it more accessible to Ls.
O This mirrors L1 acquisition, as caregivers tailor their
speech to children

SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

O Adjustments in interaction to make input more

comprehensible (in vocab, syntax or phonology) pave

the way to acquisition.

PSYCHOLINGUISTICS
O The study of the cognitive processes that support the

acquisition and use of language

O First focused on L1 acquisition, more recently extended
to L2, L3, Ln (bi/trilinguals)
O Also centered on language performance when it breaks
down (brain damages, aphasia, tip-of-the-tongue
phenomenon)

SOCIOLINGUISTICS
O The study of language in society: social

factors determine the choice and form of what

is written or said or understood
O Also the study of language variation and
change (standard/prestige language vs nonstandard language; speech communities)
O Social factors correlate with language
variation: gender, age, audience, identity

LANGUAGE LEARNER
O Success in learning a foreign language

depends on a variety of factors, but mainly on

the learners characteristics
O These are beyond the teachers control:
motivation, learning style, learner strategies,
age, gender