FIRST AND SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

First and Second Language Acquisition

First and Second Language Acquisition

Introduction

Language acquisition is the way through which humans attain the competence to recognize and comprehend language and use words to communicate with one another. In order to use language as a mean to communicate with others, it is essential to learn a set of tools which include; syntax, phonetics and an extensive vocabulary. The study of language requires an extensive approach. We can approach the study of language at different levels as a system and by considering the rules that shape a linguistic code, i.e., what is traditionally known as grammar, and on the other hand, the choice of tools required for communicative interaction, for disciplines such as pragmatics and text linguistics.

In this assignment, we will take a brief review of several theories to study the relationship between the processes of acquisition of our mother tongue (first language) with the processes of second language acquisition, to see how far we can find elements that facilitate connection with foreign language teaching. We will see what features and conditions are required in the acquisition in either case. There are definite differences between the natural and spontaneous acquisition of native speakers, and the conditions presented by learning through classroom instruction.

Language Competence versus Performance

Background

The theoretical difference between competence and performance is an assumption put forward by Noam Chomsky in the framework of generative linguistics. It was originally published in 1965 in Aspect of the Theory of Syntax. It proceeded from a reinterpretation of the "opposition Saussurean language and speech" and has become a classic concept of linguistic discourse. The important aspects to understand in the journey for learning Alternative language comprises of Linguistics, language pedagogy, cross-culture communication and language use. Moreover, the learner must also focus on language policy, language planning, the nature of native language and second language, nature of a language, sound system and syntax, semantics and pragmatics (Gass and Selinker 2008, p.1-14).

Definitions

In the terminology of generative grammar, the linguistic behaviour of a speaker is defined by a pair of concepts: competence or speaker's linguistic knowledge, and performance or concrete realization of this knowledge in linguistic communicative acts. By language competence, we mean the ability to recognize and reproduce phrases that are grammatically correct.  On the other hand, by linguistic performance, especially in oral, we mean the ability to convey a message effectively. The two concepts are certainly related, but separated (Richards et al. 1992, p. 269).

Significance

The significance of learning the basics is very important, as nobody is capable to learn the alternate language if he doesn't know the deep competences of the second language. He must also know the way to link both his original or mother language with the alternate or second language he is learning. It distinguishes among generative capacity building and recognize all grammatically correct statements on the one hand (skill) and all other utterances (performance). According to Chomsky, linguistic competence is common to all speakers of one language, and helps interpret the sentences provided with sense, ambiguous sentences. It theoretically allows a speaker to produce sentences of infinite length that does not allow linguistic ...