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In:Research at the Intersection of Second Language Acquisition and Sociolinguistics: Studies in honor of Kimberly L. Geeslin
Edited by Megan Solon, Matthew Kanwit and Aarnes Gudmestad
[Issues in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics 43] 2025
► pp. 289–316

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Chapter 11
An exploration of L1 attitudes and individual characteristics in the study of sociolinguistic perception in additional-language Spanish

 | Roanoke College
 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Published online: 26 June 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ihll.43.11mic
Abstract
This study takes as its foundation concerns about comparing learner language to that of native speakers in applied linguistics. Two possible avenues for alternative analyses include examinations of language users’ full repertoires and their diverse language experiences. We explored participants’ sociolinguistic perception in Spanish based on their sociolinguistic perception in English and other language-experience characteristics. The participants (first-language English speakers/additional-language learners of Spanish) completed two matched-guise tasks (one in each language) and a background questionnaire. The analysis uncovered preliminary evidence of limited connections between L1 attitudes and language-experience characteristics. We subsequently formulated hypotheses regarding additional-language sociolinguistic perception and offered concrete methodological recommendations for future research seeking to explain the acquisition of sociolinguistic perception without relying on comparisons with native speakers.
Article outline
  • Background
    • NS comparisons in SLA
    • Sociolinguistic competence and variationist SLA
    • Variable structures
  • The current study
  • Method
    • Participants
    • Tasks
    • Data coding and analysis
  • Results
    • Step 1
    • Step 2
    • Step 3
    • Step 4. Language-experience profiles and perceptions of Spanish
  • Discussion
    • L1 and sociolinguistic perception
    • Language experience and sociolinguistic perception
    • Recommendations for future study
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
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Cited by (1)

Cited by one other publication

Gudmestad, Aarnes
2025. The development of sociolinguistic competence in Spanish: insights from study-abroad research. Journal of Spanish Language Teaching 12:2 ► pp. 137 ff. DOI logo

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