Alternative Approaches to Second Language Acquisition

This volume presents seven alternative approaches to studying second language acquisition a " 'alternative' in the sense that they contrast with and/or complement the cognitivism pervading the field. All seven approaches a " sociocultural, complexity theory, conversation analysis, identity, language socialization, sociocognitive, and ecological a " are described according to the same set of six headings, allowing for direct comparison across approaches.

Each chapter is authored by leading advocates for the approach described: James Lantolf for the sociocultural approach; Diane Larsen-Freeman for the complexity theory approach; Gabriele Kasper and Johannes Wagner for the conversational analysis approach; Bonny Norton and Carolyn McKinney for the identity approach; Patricia Duff and Steven Talmy for the language socialization approach; Dwight Atkinson for the sociocognitive approach; and Leo van Lier for the ecological approach.

Introductory and commentary chapters round out this volume. The editora (TM)s introduction describes the significance of alternative approaches to SLA studies given its strongly cognitivist orientation. Lourdes Ortegaa (TM)s commentary considers the seven approaches from an 'enlightened traditional' perspective on SLA studies a " a viewpoint which is cognitivist in orientation but broad enough to give serious and balanced consideration to alternative approaches.

This volume is essential reading in the field of second language acquisition.