Matakuliah: G0922/Introduction to Linguistics Tahun: 2008 Session 13 Second Language Acquisition

Bina Nusantara University 2 Outline Steps in Child Language Acquisition Factors influencing CLA Roles of first language in SLA Roles of second language in SLA Factors affecting Second Language Acquisition

Bina Nusantara University 3 LEARNING OUTCOMES Students are able to mention the steps of child language acquisition and the factors influencing them Students are able to indicate the role of their first language in learning English  Students are able to relate the factors influencing students in learning a second language learning and factors influencing them in learning English

Bina Nusantara University 4 Language acquisition The learning and development of a person language. –The learning of a native or first language is called First language acquisition. –The learning of a second or foreign language is called Second language acquisition.

Bina Nusantara University 5 Factors influencing First language Acquisition 1. Adult Speech/ care giver speech : - A type of speech given to the young learners - Features of English caregiver speech a. Phonetics: Slow, carefully articulated speech Higher pitch Exaggerated intonation and stress Longer pauses b.Lexical and semantic : More restricted vocabulary Reference to here and now

Bina Nusantara University 6 C. Syntactic –Few incomplete sentence –Short sentences –More imperatives and questions D. Conversational –More repetitions –Few utterances per conversational turn 2.Feedback : the response of adults to a child utterances Recast : response by repeating Child: Daddy is here Mother : Yes, Daddy is here

Bina Nusantara University 7 3. Cognitive development Cognitive development influences language acquisition and vice versa Object permanence –Child will learn more if the object is permanent because they think that the object does not cease any longer if they cannot see it. –Children will learn the names of objects more quickly if they understand that the object exists. Seriation –The ability to arrange elements (such as sticks) in order of increasing or decreasing size. –Children under five only understand things that are long and short. They can only say that something is short or long –Children of five and above are capable of seriation

Bina Nusantara University 8 The role of the first language The first language influence the learning of the second language in: phonology, syntax and morphology The language between the first and second language is called interlanguage. Some examples of interlanguage between Indonesian and English are: Phonology : the /de/ ; think /ting/ Syntax : white flower  bunga putih mod noun noun modifier Morphology : one spoon  two spoon I go  he go

Bina Nusantara University 9 Factors influencing SLA –Attitude towards the second language The more positive the attitude the learners have towards the language, the greater motivation they will have and the better and the faster they learn Holmes (1992) – the attitudes towards a language depend on the situation of the politics, economy and social life of the people speaking the language –Motivation The stronger the motivation is the better the learners learn –Self esteem The more self esteem a person has, the better self confidence he has. This kind of person will not be shy in correcting his mistakes over and over

Bina Nusantara University 10 Factors influencing SLA –Peers The more supportive the peers towards the learning of the second language is, the better learners the person will be –Social life Acquiring the second language like children should be done in a context so people will learn the language in a natural situation - Toughness As learning a language needs a long time, the learners should be tough. - Age. Is there any critical period in learning a language?