第二语言习得概论

张宏武

目录

  • 1 Understanding SLA
    • 1.1 Definition of SLA
    • 1.2 Objectives of SLA research
    • 1.3 Basic terminology in SLA
    • 1.4 The external and internal factors in SLA
    • 1.5 A review of first language acquisition
    • 1.6 Assignment
  • 2 The Study of Interlanguage
    • 2.1 Definition of interlanguage
    • 2.2 Characteristics of interlanguage
    • 2.3 Major findings in interlanguage studies
    • 2.4 Interlanguage pragmatics
    • 2.5 Assignment
  • 3 Linguistic Aspects of Second Language Acquisition
    • 3.1 The nature of human language
    • 3.2 Early approaches to SLA
    • 3.3 Universal grammar (UG)
    • 3.4 Typological universals: Accessibility hierarchy (AH)
    • 3.5 Functional approaches
    • 3.6 Assignment
  • 4 Psychological Aspects of Second Language Acquisition
    • 4.1 Language and the brain
    • 4.2 Behaviorist way of learning
Definition of interlanguage

Chapter two  The Study of Interlanguage

 

There is much in common between L1 and L2 acquisition. Knowing an L2 means knowing information similar to that of a native speaker of a language. The fundamental assumption in second language acquisition research is that learners create a language system, which is known as interlanguage. In light of this concept, the learner’s speech is not a deficit system, filled with random errors, but a system of its own with its own structure. This system is composed of a great many elements from both the native language and the target language. There are also elements in the interlanguage that do not have their origin in either the NL or the TL. They are called new forms and are the empirical essence of interlanguage. Interlanguage is an internalized system formulated by the L2 learner.

 

2.1 Definition of interlanguage

It is assumed that while a learner is learning a second language, he is building his own language system, which is a system of abstract linguistic rules which serve as a base for his comprehension and production of the L2. This particular language system constructed by the learner is different from both his mother tongue and the target language. The American linguist, Larry Selinker (1972) introduced the term Interlanguage (IL) to refer to the system of a learner’s language as it moves gradually from the L1 toward the target L2. The development of IL is considered a creative process, which is driven by inner forces in interaction with environmental factors and which is influenced both by L1 and by the input from the target language. A learner’s interlanguage is a unique language system. Therefore, interlanguage is also called learner language since it is constructed by the learner.