Interlanguage
Second Language Acquisition : Rod Ellis
By
Sakilah Bewafa (2201410001)
Risqi Sugiarti (2201410006)
Tri Iryani (2201410156)
Semarang State University
2012
Interlanguage
Theories which are dealed with Interlanguage:
1. Behaviourist learning theory
2. Mentalist theory of language learning
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Behaviourist learning theory
Language learning is a kind of learning that
involves habits formation.
Habits are formed when the learners respond to
stimuli in the environment and have their
responses reinforcement.
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Behaviourist learning theory
 Learners imitated models of correct language
 correct imitation  positive reinforcement
example: “give me a pencil”  he gets a pencil
 Incorrect imitation  negative reinforcement
example : “give me” he does not get a pencil
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Behaviourist learning theory
It can be seen that behaviourist accounts of L2
acquisition emphasize only what can be directly
observed and ignored what goes on in the ‘black
box’ of the learner’s mind.
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Behaviourist learning theory
Conclusion
Learners frequently do not produce output that
simply reproduces the input.
 the systematic nature of leaners errors
demontrates that they are actively involved in
constructing their own rules.
Rules which resemblance to the pattern of the
language modelled in the input.
Learning is not just respon to the stimuli.
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Mentalist theory of language learning
The Nature (i.e. How the innate properties
of the human mind shape learning)
becomes attention in learning language.
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Mentalist theory of language learning
Mentalist theory (1960s and 1970s) stated :
1. Only human beings are capable of learning
language.
2. The human mind is equipped with a faculty
for learning language, referred to as a
language acquisition device.
3. The faculty is the primary determinant of
language acquisition.
4. Input is needed, but only to triger the
operation of
the language acquisition
device.
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What is ‘Interlanguage’?
The concept of interlanguage drew directly on the
mentalist views of L1 acquisition.
 Interlanguage Larry Selinker (American
Linguist)
The construction of linguistic system of L2 is
different from L1 and target language (a unique
linguistic system).
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What is ‘Interlanguage’?
The concepts of interlanguage :
The learner constructs a system of abstract linguistic
rules which underlies comprehension and production
of the L2.
The learner’s grammar is permeable (influence from
the outside and inside).
example: omission, generalization, transfer errors.
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What is ‘Interlanguage’?
The learner’s grammar is transitional.
Learners change their grammar from one to another
time by adding rules, deleting rules, and restructuring
the whole system (interlanguage continuum).
Interlanguage systems are homogeneous and
variability in learner language reflects the mistakes
they made.
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What is ‘Interlanguage’?
Learners employ various learning strategies such as
omission, overgeneralization and transfer errors to
develop their interlanguages.
The learner’s grammar is likely to fossilize. The
majority of learners stop developing the same mental
grammar as native speaker, unless five percent of
themonly.
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What is ‘Interlanguage’?
The concept of interlanguage offers a general account
of how L2 acquisition takes place.
This concept of interlanguage needs to be elaborated
to address some questions raises about interlanguage.
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A computational model of L2 acquisition
Input
Intake
L2 knowledge
output
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A computational model of L2 acquisition
Explanation:
-The learner is exposed to input, which is processed in
two stages.
-First stage: intake
parts of the input are attended to and taken into shortterm memory.
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A computational model of L2 acquisition
-Second stage: L2 knowledge
some of the intake is stored in long-term memory.
-Finally, L2 knowledge is used by the learner to produce
spoken and written output (learner language).
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