Abstract

This book assembles 11 analytical and empirical studies on the process of second language acquisition, probing a wide array of issues, from transfer appropriate processing to L2 default processing strategies, among hearing or deaf learners of a variety of target languages including English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, Spanish, and American Sign Language. Although instruction per se is not the focus of this volume, the chapters are written with instructed learners in mind, and hence offer valuable insights for both second and foreign language researchers and practitioners.

ZhaoHong Han is Associate Professor of Linguistics and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests include second language learnability, teachability, and fossilization. She is the author of Fossilization in Adult Second Language Acquisition (2004, Multilingual Matters) and of a variety of articles in journals and books in applied linguistics, second language learning, and second language education.

Understanding Second Language Process brings together well known researchers addressing the ‘process’ issue in SLA. Through both conceptual and empirical articles, through a range of languages being learned and looking at an array of language areas, the authors provide us with a glimpse into the world of learning processes. The classroom is always in the picture of these articles making this book a must read for anyone interested in SLA and particularly in the intersection between instruction and learning.