Date of Award
1993
Document Type
Research Paper
Abstract
The field of second language acquisition research is currently a little over 20 years old. It has borrowed much of its methodology from research in first language acquisition. From its beginnings, the focus of interest regarding second language acquisition has shifted from the external linguistic environment to the internal cognitive mechanics of the learner. The Mentalist theory is one of the major theoretical positions in the field. Researchers in second language acquisition are searching several issues; one source of controversy is the role of linguistic input on the acquisition of the second language. The project will present a case study of a woman, Kim, born in the People’s Republic of China, whose primary language is Mandarin Chinese. Her speech and language behaviors presented at the beginning of therapy will be explained, to the extent that they can be, according to the Mentalist Theory of second language acquisition.
Recommended Citation
Nevin, N. A. (1993). Second Language Acquisition: The Application of the Mentalist Theory to the Linguistic Behaviors of a Second Language Learner. Retrieved from https://poetcommons.whittier.edu/scholars/348