Key Questions in Second Language Acquisition
An Introduction

An introduction to the key questions that drive the field of L2 acquisition research, including its historical foundations.

Bill VanPatten (Author), Megan Smith (Author), Alessandro G. Benati (Author)

9781108708173, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 5 December 2019

232 pages, 5 b/w illus.
24.6 x 19 x 1.2 cm, 0.51 kg

This highly accessible introductory textbook carefully explores the main issues that have driven the field of second language acquisition research. Intended for students with little or no background in linguistics or psycholinguistics, it explains important linguistic concepts, and how and why they are relevant to second language acquisition. Topics are presented via a 'key questions' structure that enables the reader to understand how these questions have motivated research in the field, and the problems to which researchers are seeking solutions. It provides a complete package for any introductory course on second language acquisition.

1. What are the origins of second language acquisition as a research field?
2. What does development look like?
3. What are the roles of input and output?
4. What is the initial state?
5. Can L2 learners become native-like?
6. Does instruction make a difference?
7. What role does explicit learning play in acquisition?
8. What are individual differences and how do they affect L2 acquisition?

Subject Areas: Historical & comparative linguistics [CFF], Language acquisition [CFDC], Linguistics [CF], Language [C]