TY - JOUR

T1 - Broad scope and narrow focus

T2 - On the contemporary linguistic and psycholinguistic study of third language acquisition

AU - Alonso, Jorge González

AU - Rothman, Jason

AU - Berndt, Denny

AU - Castro, Tammer

AU - Westergaard, Marit

PY - 2017/12/1

Y1 - 2017/12/1

N2 - Aims: in this introduction we situate the seven articles in this special issue in terms of the connections between their themes and their individual contributions to the field of third language acquisition (L3A): new theoretical models, innovative methodologies, an epistemological commentary and new perspectives related to multilingual processing and cognitive function. Approach: we discuss important and often overlooked differences between bi- and multilingualism in the context of second language versus third or further language acquisition. We also provide a brief historical overview of the relatively young field of L3A and outline the three current models of linguistic transfer in L3 morphosyntax. Finally, we approach the issues of methodology, psychological complexity and cognitive implications that are discussed in some of these papers. Conclusions: the diversity of topics in these articles endows the issue with a broad approach to the field of L3A, while individual articles offer a narrow focus on specific theoretical and methodological issues. Significance: this special issue provides an accurate portrayal of the current interest in, and rapid expansion of, multilingualism within linguistic and psycholinguistic approaches.

AB - Aims: in this introduction we situate the seven articles in this special issue in terms of the connections between their themes and their individual contributions to the field of third language acquisition (L3A): new theoretical models, innovative methodologies, an epistemological commentary and new perspectives related to multilingual processing and cognitive function. Approach: we discuss important and often overlooked differences between bi- and multilingualism in the context of second language versus third or further language acquisition. We also provide a brief historical overview of the relatively young field of L3A and outline the three current models of linguistic transfer in L3 morphosyntax. Finally, we approach the issues of methodology, psychological complexity and cognitive implications that are discussed in some of these papers. Conclusions: the diversity of topics in these articles endows the issue with a broad approach to the field of L3A, while individual articles offer a narrow focus on specific theoretical and methodological issues. Significance: this special issue provides an accurate portrayal of the current interest in, and rapid expansion of, multilingualism within linguistic and psycholinguistic approaches.

KW - Bi- versus multilingualism

KW - cross-linguistic influence

KW - executive function

KW - initial stages versus development

KW - methodology

KW - order of acquisition versus structural proximity

KW - theoretical approaches

KW - transfer

KW - wholesale transfer versus property-by-property learning

U2 - 10.1177/1367006916653685

DO - 10.1177/1367006916653685

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85034425750

VL - 21

SP - 639

EP - 650

JO - International Journal of Bilingualism

JF - International Journal of Bilingualism

SN - 1367-0069

IS - 6

ER -