Table of Contents

Preface
Section 1
Survey
1: L2 acquisition
What is 'second language acquisition'?
What are the goals of SLA?
2: The nature of learner language
Errors and error analysis
Developmental patterns
Variability in learner language
Summary
3: Interlanguage
Behaviourist learning theory
A mentalist theory of language learning
What is 'interlanguage'?
A computational model of L2 acquisition
4: Social aspects of interlanguage
Interlanguage as a stylistic continuum
The acculturation model of L2 acquisition
Social identity and investment in L2 learning
5: Discourse aspects of interlanguage
Acquiring discourse rules
The role of input and interaction in L2 acquisition
The role of output in L2 acquisition
Summary
6: Psycholinguistic aspects of interlanguage
L1 transfer
The role of consciousness in L2 acquisition
Processing operations
Communication strategies
Two types of computational model
7: Linguistic aspects of interlanguage
Typological universals: relative clauses
Universal Grammar
Learnability
The critical period hypothesis
Access to UG
Markedness
Cognitive versus linguistic explanations
8: Individual differences in L2 acquisition
Language aptitude
Motivation
Learning strategies
9: Instruction and L2 acquisition
Form-focused instruction
Learner-instruction matching
Strategy training
Summary
10: Conclusion: multiple perspectives in SLA
Section 2
Readings
Section 3
References
Section 4
Glossary

Promotional Information

Makes the essentials of this rapidly expanding area of study accessible to readers encountering it for the first time. By Rod Ellis. Part of the Oxford Introductions to Language Study series.

Reviews

`... a powerful tool in opening the door, even to the novice, into this field.'
Issues in Applied Linguistics
`I am impressed with both the aims of this book and the way the design sets out to achieve them. Second Language Acquisition will be useful for anyone curious to learn about the issues of this rapidly expanding and complex area.'
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