High-Level Language Proficiency in Second Language and Multilingual Contexts

An encompassing picture of what high-level competence in second languages and in multilingual use is about.

Kenneth Hyltenstam (Edited by), Inge Bartning (Edited by), Lars Fant (Edited by)

9781316627983, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 September 2020

243 pages, 26 b/w illus. 30 tables
22.9 x 15.1 x 1.3 cm, 0.37 kg

'... while the text cannot possibly provide definitive answers to its broad questions (and never claims to), it does leave the reader with a much deeper understanding of these issues and the questions that remain to be explored.' Jean Danic, LINGUIST List

The issue of high-level language proficiency in other than monolingual contexts can be approached from a variety of perspectives, including linguistic/structural; psycholinguistic/cognitive and sociolinguistic/societal. Bringing together a team of experts, this volume takes a novel empirical approach to the subject combined with an up-to-date understanding of these research areas, to answer two important research questions in the field of second language acquisition: what conditions allow learners to attain an outstanding level of proficiency in a second language, and what factors still prevent them from becoming entirely like first language speakers. Looking at a range of European languages including English, French, Italian, Spanish and Swedish, it provides important insights into second language use at the highest levels as well as in high-proficient mixed language use in multicultural settings. A useful tool for both language teaching and language teacher training, it provides a solid grounding for further study in this important area of research.

Introduction: high-level proficiency and the concept of nativelikeness in second language and multilingual research practice Kenneth Hyltenstam, Inge Bartning and Lars Fant
1. Age effects on language acquisition, retention and loss – key hypotheses and findings Niclas Abrahamsson, Emanuel Bylund and Kenneth Hyltenstam
2. The last barriers in high-level L2 speech: morphosyntax in focus Inge Bartning and Fanny Forsberg Lundell
3. Discourse and interaction in highly proficient L2 users Lars Fant
4. Formulaic language in advanced long-residency L2 speakers Britt Erman, Fanny Forsberg Lundell and Margareta Lewis
5. Developing lexical complexity in oral production: limitations and possibilities of the advanced L2 learner Camilla Bardel and Anna Gudmundson
6. Reading comprehension in advanced L2 readers Philip Shaw and Alan McMillion
7. Polyglotism – a synergy of abilities and predispositions Kenneth Hyltenstam
8. What's the target? A folk linguistic study of young stockholmers' constructions of linguistic norm and variation Ellen Bijvoet and Kari Fraurud.

Subject Areas: Applied linguistics for ELT [EBAL], Language teaching theory & methods [CJA], Language acquisition [CFDC], Linguistics [CF]