Contributions of Grand Linguistic Theories to Second Language Acquisition Research and Pedagogy

Mohammad Alimohammadirokni

doi:10.5539/ijel.v5n6p95

Abstract

Research on second language acquisition (SLA) and use has always been enriched by linguistic schools and theories. The purpose of the present paper is give readers a snapshot of contributions grand linguistic theories have made to L2 acquisition research and pedagogy. The grand linguistic theories chosen for review in the present study include Structural Linguistics, Nativism, Functional Linguistics, and Cognitive Linguistics. These four linguistics theories have been, and some of them are, paid much more focus in the field of linguistics than other theories. In fact, the areas of SLA research and pedagogy have been highly influenced by these four grand linguistic theories. However, their impacts on these two areas have not been equal and, as a matter of fact, some of linguistic theories have more influenced SLA research while other theories have had implications more for SLA pedagogy. The contributions of the aforementioned grand linguistic theories to SLA research and pedagogy are discussed, along with criticisms against the contributions of each linguistic theory posed by the rival researchers.

Highlights

Language acquisition has always been seen as an interesting phenomenon for investigation as it was thought that its study would open a way for understanding the nature of human beings
This paper had to be selective in discussing the contributions that the field of linguistics has made to second language acquisition (SLA) research and pedagogy; i.e., it only discussed the contributions that grand linguistic theories and frameworks have made to these SLA areas
Even from the review presented in this paper, it is clear that these contributions have been very influential to both SLA research and pedagogy

Summary

Introduction

Language acquisition has always been seen as an interesting phenomenon for investigation as it was thought that its study would open a way for understanding the nature of human beings. The study of language has a history comparable to the study of philosophy, fine arts, and literature (see, for example, Formigari, 2004) Such efforts have not always been philosophical, with some branches of linguistics trying to find solution to language-related problems in the real world. The decisions are made with respect to a wide range of language-related problems including aphasia, forensic investigations, (critical) discourse analysis, journalism, L2 teaching and learning, etc It would not raise a lot criticism to claim that the most studied member of the field of applied linguistics is second language acquisition (SLA) research and pedagogy which deals with the processes that are involved in the second language (L2) acquisition and use, with the practical objective of improving these processes. At the end of the review, some suggestions are made as to how SLA research and pedagogy should interact with linguistic theories in the future

Structural Linguistics

Priority of Spoken Language over Written Language

Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis

Nativism

UG-Access Studies of L2 Acquisition

Critical Period Hypothesis

Functional Linguistics

Models of L2 Communicative Competence

Interlanguage Pragmatics

Cognitive Linguistics

Conclusion