Discontinuity in Second Language Acquisition

The Switch between Statistical and Grammatical Learning

By (author) Stefano Rastelli

Publication date:

12 September 2014

Publisher

Multilingual Matters

Dimensions:

210x148mm
6x8"

ISBN-13: 9781783092468

With a particular focus on the morphosyntactic features of second language, this book discusses the idea that language acquisition is a discontinuous and 'quantized' process and thus that some items might be learned twice, statistically and grammatically. It argues that the switch from one way of learning to another is statistically-driven and grammatically motivated. The volume brings together and discusses insights and evidence from learner corpora analysis and electrophysiological data in an attempt to provide the reader with a unified outlook and it suggests a new, developmentally-oriented interpretation of findings. The topics discussed will be of interest to researchers working in the field of psycho- and neurolinguistics and SLA.

1. Second Language Acquisition facit faltus ('takes a leap')

2. Discontinuity as Chunks Feed into Grammar

3. Discontinuity in the Maturing and in the Adapting Brain

4. Discontinuity and the Neurocognition of Second Language

5. Statistical Learning of a Second Language

6. Parts of L2 Grammar that Resist Statistical Learning

Conclusions

References

The first quality distinguishing the Italian psycholinguist Stefano Rastelli’s book Discontinuity in Second Language Acquisition: The Switch between Statistical and Grammatical Learning (henceforth, Discontinuity) is its coherence as a single-author volume focused entirely on SLA, predominantly by adults. The second is the breadth and depth of Rastelli’s knowledge of current theory and research in linguistics, cognitive psychology, neurolinguistics, and SLA, and his ability to synthesize and integrate work from all four. The third is the originality of his perspective.