3.0 First (1st)& Second (2nd) Language
Acquisition ( P: 49-62)
Introduction
This section continues in what was
mentioned in the previous section
about language acquisition, languages
theories and how we can speak many
languages depending to our ability to
do things.
1. 0 In this section(P: 50)
• We discussed the following:
1. The 1st and 2nd language acquisition.
2. How many Number of languages we can
speak.
3. How to learn a 2nd language.(as English,
French …etc
4. learning variable(differences) in 1st and 2nd
Language acquisition.
Tucker (2003) says:
• ( no matter the number of language we learnt
later in life, “ the rapidity and accuracy of the 1st
acquisition can simply not be repeated)
• She continues, “the differences between a child
ability to communicate in the target language
surpasses the adult ability in rapidity and
accuracy”
• Because of the following factors that are
responsible for the differences between children
and adults in rapidity and accuracy:
3.1
3.1 Factors responsible for Rapidity
and accuracy in Language acquisition:
1. input
2. age
3. motivation
4. Egocentricity(selfishness)
1. Input
((the quantity and quality) as:
The quantity (amount) of the exposure that a child
has. (is greater than adult)
(the learning situations :
Thro which the child hears and Exposes to a
target language all the day through different
ways( at home, at play, in classroom)
Unlike the adult who,
A) . lack the time to study or listen to the
language that spoken or read, due to:
B) . Stress of works
c) Inability to understand the structure
discourage adult from going rapidly in learning
d) An adult may go to classroom, but the class
may contains 20- 25 students and the instructor
mayn’t give enough time or pay attention to
the individual.
2. Age (it called the critical period)
• Age is another important factor responsible
for acquiring a 2nd L. How?
• the success period is before puberty
At puberty period the successful learning
become so difficult. Why? Because people go
through changes as Physical, emotional and
cognition term. There are 3 main changes affect
the language acquisition as:
a. The presence of muscular plasticity
• -some psychologists say:
• a Child plasticity(‫ (مرونه‬gone away about age
of 5, after this age it is so difficult for learner
to master pronunciation.
• The question is:
• What happens to a child above age 5 who
travels outside their countries and after 2
years mastered the art of speaking of the host
language?????
This question destroy this claim
• It is not true for all cases. Because, some
youngers travel from Nigeria to Europe and
they mastered the host language
This gives room to motivation that leads
learners to learn fast and accurate
b. Memorization Capicity:
Tucker (2003)says:
As a person grows older his ability to store large
amount of information begins to decrease.
c. Neuro-bio-logical changes
• Neurology reached at:
(when a person grows mature , his left
hemisphere (responsible of analytical and
intellectual functions)
dominant the right
hemisphere (responsible of emotion functions)
and this affect language learning.
The advantage of this help adults to master
grammar and structure more than children why?
• Because, the cognitive development.
• The disadvantage is that:
• The adults keep hold of structure of their first
language and involve in it in the L2
3. Motivation
• It helps in emotional change.
• Children are easily motivated unlike adults
But Tucker list 2 ways to motivate adults:
a. The first: Integrative motivation
Is to encourage learners to acquire the new L
why? To be able to identify with speakers of L2
b. The second :Instrumental motivation
• This to acquire proficiency as to a translator, A
researcher in different areas.
4. Egocentricity (selfishness)
- It deals with how adults annoyed when they
corrected when learning another L.
- And how they get frustrated or threatened
when they learn another language if it has to do
with enhancement. They see mistakes as failure
rather than avenue(bath) for correction.
• Exercise:
• Mention three factors affecting the acquisition
of language as discussed by Tucker(2003)
• -----------------------------------------------------------• The next is section 3.2 (P: 52)
3.2 Characteristics of L1 and L2 - open
Page 52
Language 1
• *L1 : is the mother tongue
language is (1st language)
• *L1 always lost leaving
individual with the new 2nd
L, that they learnt(when a
child move to another
environment in which the
1st L never spoken there
frequently)
• May not be a dominant L..
Language 2
• *L2: is the language that
we learn after the 1st
language.
• It acquired after puberty
3.2 Similarities and differences( L1
and L2 as stated by (Ellis 1994)
Language 1
1. Speed:
it learned faster, be very
competence.
2. Stages:
Native speaker learn it from
environment surrounding him.
Language 2
1. Speed:
It learn slowly, and the learner
not always be native- like
competence in L2 although
s/he spent many years there.
2. Stages:
Basic
sound,
vocabulary,
grammar developed while
learning depends on individual
Compare bw L1 and L2
Language 1
Language 2
it
acquired
unconsciously.
-Learners achieve high
level of fluency and
comprehension.
2. It consciously acquired
learnt and used after
puberty period.
• Learners never achieve
high level of fluency and
comprehension.
2-
Continue similarities and diff.
L1
3. Competence:
L1 speakers achieve highly
competence in term fluency
and accuracy.
_ Children of L1 master overall
success normally.
_ L1 learners are able to form
a clear grammatical judgment.
L2
3. Competence:
L2 learner
are Less
competence than L1 speaker in
accuracy, runs after fluency.
_ adults learner of L2 unlikely
to achieve a perfect L2
mastery.
_ L2 learners are unable to
form a clear grammatical
judgment.
4.0 Conclusion of the previous Unit
It surveys or reiews:
1. Acquisition of L1 and L2 as it assumed by
some scholars.
2. Some factors affecting the accuracy of
acquiring the 1st and 2nd L.(age- motivationegocentricity(selfish) Tucker 2003.
3. The similarity and differences bw L1 and L2.
Summary of the previous Unit: P: 54
1. The quantity of exposure of Target L for child
is greater than that of adults.
2. Input is the different ways that learners
exposed to L2.
3. Relevance to the L to the lives of the adult is
a factor in acquiring L.
4. A child’s language is a system in itself, it
differ from adults fragment system.
Continue:
• 5. Language depends on learner’s cognition
• 6. Learning 1st L has many sides and not just
learning its syntax and vocabulary
• 7. There are particular stages of development
thro’ which children progress even the rate of
this progress is varies
Homework(P:53)
Q1:Why is a complete success rare in L2
acquisition for a Nigerian learner of English?
• ---------------------------------------------------------Discuss:
Q2. What are the characteristics of L1 and L2?
Q3. What are similarities and diff. bw L1 and L2:
in terms of( speed- stages- competence)?
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