Variability in learner language.ppt

Variability in Learner Language
——Rod Ellis, The Study of Second Language Acquistion
Q: Are these three terms (linguistic, situational, psycholinguistic context) parallel?
Linguistic
context
Situational
context
Psycholinguistic
context
Systematic
variation
Non-systematic
(free) variation
Form-function
variation
Form-function mappings
Linguistic context
The effects of the linguistic environment are evident at the phonological, morphological, and syntactical levels of language.
e ____ football. (play)
e (is) playing football.
In Peru, e played football every day.
One linguistic form can trigger the use of another form.
Situational context
L2 learners possess a continuum of styles (Superordinate or Careful; Vernacular) and each style has its own linguistic norms. Learners style shift between the styles in accordance with the demands of the situation.
(Appropriateness in Hymes'petence)
Formal situations that require careful language use
Informal situations that permit more spontaneous language use
Psycholinguistic context
Do the learners have the opportunity to plan their production?
irregular verb forms in the unplanned narrative
regular verb forms in the planned narrative
Time pressure
Focus of attention
Metalingual knowledge (Hulstijn & Hulstijn, 1984)
Free Variation
Free variation can be considered to occur when two or more forms occur randomly in