Cross-linguistic Similarity in Foreign Language Learning

Håkan Ringbom

Published by Multilingual Matters 2006

Cross-linguistic Similarity in Foreign Language Learning

Håkan Ringbom

In the series Second Language Acquisition

https://doi.org/10.21832/9781853599361

Overview
Contents

About this book

This book explores the importance of cross-linguistic similarity in foreign language learning. Similarities can be perceived in the form of simplified one-to-one relationships or merely assumed. The book outlines the different roles of L1 transfer on comprehension and on production, and on close and distant target languages.

Author / Editor information

Ringbom Håkan :

HÃ¥kan Ringbom is Emeritus Professor of English at Ãbo Akademi University, Turku/Ãbo, Finland. His published monographs include a study of the narrative technique of Beowulf and Lawmanâs Brut, a stylistic study of George Orwellâs essays and his 1987 study of the role of the first language in foreign language learning. He has also published some 50 articles in the fields of second language acquisition, multilingualism, corpus linguistics, contrastive analysis and stylistics.

Håkan Ringbom is Emeritus Professor of English at Åbo Akademi University, Turku/Åbo, Finland. His published monographs include a study of the narrative technique of Beowulf and Lawman’s Brut, a stylistic study of George Orwell’s essays and his 1987 study of the role of the first language in foreign language learning. He has also published some 50 articles in the fields of second language acquisition, multilingualism, corpus linguistics, contrastive analysis and stylistics.

Reviews

Robert Taferner, Tama University/Lancaster University:

Ringbom’s latest work provides a thorough summary of cross-linguistic research that is readily applicable to the language teacher as well as the researcher.This text will assuredly contribute to your knowledge of language acquisition and stimulate your classroom practice and research horizons for years to come.

ZhaoHong Han, Teachers College, Columbia University, USA:

The volume evokes an array of interesting issues for future research to investigate, some new and some perennial. The volume makes an important addition to SLA literature. It deserves the attention of anyone striving for a sound understanding not only of crosslinguistic influence but also of the history of SLA.

Sauli Takala, Vaasa University:

This book is a very timely and important contribution to the field of applied linguistics. Håkan Ringbom addresses the fundamental but unfortunately largely neglected question of the impact of cross-language similarity in foreign language learning. The extensive bibliography shows that the author has as a thorough knowledge of the development of research on the topic. He has also skillfully exploited the Finnish context, which provides an ideal “natural laboratory” for research on the role of cross-language similarity. The studies he cites are likely to be largely unknown but they are undoubtedly highly relevant to the international research community. The author provides a balanced review of the findings and presents a comprehensive theoretical approach to the study of SLA. This will provide many stimuli for a more sophisticated research agenda. This book is a must for anyone interested in SLA.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	viii
Chapter 1. Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter 2. Different Types of Cross-linguistic Similarities Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	5
Chapter 3. Learner Expectations, On-line Comprehension and Receptive Learning Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	10
Chapter 4. Cross-linguistic Similarities in Comprehension and Production: The Mental Lexicon Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	19
Chapter 5. Transfer: The Use of Cross-linguistic Similarities. The Finnish Scene Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	30
Chapter 6. Tests of English Comparing Finnish and Swedish Speakers in Finland Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	41
Chapter 7. Levels of Transfer: Items and Procedures (Systems) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	54
Chapter 8. Item Transfer in Production: Areas of Language Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	61
Chapter 9. Skill Theory, Automaticity and Foreign Language Learning Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	89
Chapter 10. Development of Foreign Language Learning Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	98
Chapter 11. Consequences for Teaching Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	103
Chapter 12. Further Research Needed Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	115
Chapter 13. Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	117
Appendix 1 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	120
Appendix 2 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	121
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	123
Index of Persons Cited Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	141

Language: English
Publisher: Multilingual Matters
Pages
- Main content: 152
Keywords: crosslinguistic influence; crosslinguistic similarity; foreign language learning; Second Language Acquisition; prior linguistic knowledge; language learning; transfer in language learning; transfer in language acquisition; L1 transfer

eBook

Published: December 18, 2006
ISBN: 9781853599361