Is noticing an answer to the problem of unacquirable structures in the second language?

The aim of this article is to evaluate one proposed solution to the problem that some aspects of a second language (L2) seem unacquirable. In order to understand the solution, it is necessary to explicate the problem. This will be done by providing a brief description of Fodor's (1983) modular...

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Main Author: Southwood, Frenette
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: Stellenbosch University 2002-09-01
Series:Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus
Subjects:
Online Access:https://spilplus.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/9
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author Southwood, Frenette
author_facet Southwood, Frenette
author_sort Southwood, Frenette
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this article is to evaluate one proposed solution to the problem that some aspects of a second language (L2) seem unacquirable. In order to understand the solution, it is necessary to explicate the problem. This will be done by providing a brief description of Fodor's (1983) modular view of the human mind, followed by an account of the views of two researchers on second language acquisition (SLA), namely that of Krashen (whose view is compatible with the modular view of the human mind) and that of White (whose view is not). These two researchers agree on many aspects of SLA, but disagree about whether learnt knowledge of language can become acquired knowledge. It is here that an interesting question arises, namely the question of whether certain aspects of an L2 can be learnt, but not acquired. One proposed answer to this problem, namely that of noticing, will be evaluated. Reasons why noticing is, at present, more of a problem than an answer will be provided, and a case will be made for the Noticing Hypothesis being testable in theory but not in practice.
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spelling doaj.art-bc5c5ae756024568b015e796a165a8a52022-12-22T00:38:06ZafrStellenbosch UniversityStellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus1726-541X2224-33802002-09-01310476110.5842/31-0-9Is noticing an answer to the problem of unacquirable structures in the second language?Southwood, Frenette0Stellenbosch University, South AfricaThe aim of this article is to evaluate one proposed solution to the problem that some aspects of a second language (L2) seem unacquirable. In order to understand the solution, it is necessary to explicate the problem. This will be done by providing a brief description of Fodor's (1983) modular view of the human mind, followed by an account of the views of two researchers on second language acquisition (SLA), namely that of Krashen (whose view is compatible with the modular view of the human mind) and that of White (whose view is not). These two researchers agree on many aspects of SLA, but disagree about whether learnt knowledge of language can become acquired knowledge. It is here that an interesting question arises, namely the question of whether certain aspects of an L2 can be learnt, but not acquired. One proposed answer to this problem, namely that of noticing, will be evaluated. Reasons why noticing is, at present, more of a problem than an answer will be provided, and a case will be made for the Noticing Hypothesis being testable in theory but not in practice.https://spilplus.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/9second language acquisitionnoticingsecond language
spellingShingle Southwood, Frenette
Is noticing an answer to the problem of unacquirable structures in the second language?
Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus
second language acquisition
noticing
second language
title Is noticing an answer to the problem of unacquirable structures in the second language?
title_full Is noticing an answer to the problem of unacquirable structures in the second language?
title_fullStr Is noticing an answer to the problem of unacquirable structures in the second language?
title_full_unstemmed Is noticing an answer to the problem of unacquirable structures in the second language?
title_short Is noticing an answer to the problem of unacquirable structures in the second language?
title_sort is noticing an answer to the problem of unacquirable structures in the second language
topic second language acquisition
noticing
second language
url https://spilplus.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/9
work_keys_str_mv AT southwoodfrenette isnoticingananswertotheproblemofunacquirablestructuresinthesecondlanguage