In:Usage-based Perspectives on Language and Language Acquisition: In honour of Heike Behrens
Edited by Karin Madlener-Charpentier, Marjolijn H. Verspoor, Mirjam Weder and Annelies Häcki Buhofer
[Trends in Language Acquisition Research 35] 2026
► pp. 1–19
Introduction
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
This introduction sketches current strands of UB research and
outlines the structure of this edited volume, which pays tribute to Heike
Behrens, who has contributed to and shaped usage-based (UB) research
efforts from the start. The chapter describes how various UB approaches have
emerged and evolved over the last three decades, reshaping how we view,
research, and model language and interaction, first and second language
development, and multilingualism. It also describes how UB approaches have
embraced differing perspectives, disciplines, and methodologies that share a
focus on authentic language use and experience, shedding new light on
processes of language usage and development.
Article outline
- 1.Usage-based approaches to language
- 2.Usage-based approaches to first language development
- 3.Usage-based approaches to multilingualism, second language development and instruction
- 4.UB approaches meet Dynamic Systems Theory
and interactional approaches - 5.The present edited volume
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