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Article published In: Language, Interaction and Acquisition
Vol. 13:1 (2022) ► pp.1–28

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Under the surface

A survey of principles of language use in advanced L2 speakers

 | University of Paris 8 & CNRS, UMR 7023
 | Heidelberg University
 | Heidelberg University
 | Heidelberg University
Published online: 24 August 2022
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/lia.21014.lam
Abstract
Through a survey of crosslinguistic empirical studies on narratives and in the domain of motion events, we argue that the principles of language use pose a hurdle for second language acquisition, an issue that has not been given adequate attention in earlier research. These principles are part of our pragmatic knowledge which encompasses language-specific information organization at the discourse level as well as event schemata at the level of construing reportable units. The findings show how highly competent L2 speakers activate L1-based knowledge that reflects deeply entrenched principles and seems resistant to change.
Résumé
Des comparaisons interlangues de récits et de descriptions de situations de déplacement montrent que les principes sous-tendant l’usage des moyens linguistiques en L2 posent des problèmes d’apprentissage notables, domaine largement ignoré à ce jour. Ces principes font partie des connaissances pragmatiques spécifiques aux langues qui ont trait tant à l’organisation des discours qu’aux schémas cognitifs sous-tendant la représentation de déplacements dans l’espace. Les études empiriques présentées ici montrent que des apprenants très avancés activent en L2 les connaissances pragmatiques de leur langue source. Le niveau d’abstraction de ces connaissances semble constituer un frein à leur acquisition.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical framework
    • 2.1Language production and information structure
    • 2.2Studies on typological differences
    • 2.3The role of frequency
  • 3.Patterns of discourse organization in narrative texts
    • 3.1Introduction
    • 3.2Overview of options for information selection and organization
      • 3.2.1Information selection
      • 3.2.2Event linking and interconnecting
    • 3.3Limits in suppressing the L1 event schema in L2
      • 3.3.1Uses and implications of the progressive form
      • 3.3.2Selection of entities and status assignment
    • 3.4Discussion
  • 4.Event framing in L1 and L2: The case of motion events
    • 4.1Introduction
    • 4.2Background studies
    • 4.3Crosslinguistic L1 analyses: Event unit formation by French and German speakers
    • 4.4Crosslinguistic L1 analyses: Studies on motion events
    • 4.5L2 studies
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
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