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Chapter 1. Sociolinguistic competence and the acquisition of speaking

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Abstract

In face-to-face spoken interactions, language learners must construct a meaningful message consistent with the L2 grammar, articulate it comprehensibly, and manage the aspects of oral communication that reflect speaker identity, interlocutor identities, and the characteristics of the interactional context. A lack of sociolinguistic competence can lead to a failure to convey formality, politeness, solidarity, friendship, and group membership, and this will negatively affect the communicative outcome. The current chapter examines the social and situational information one conveys through linguistic variants in speech, offering a state-of-the-art account of empirical research, including a discussion of pressing issues in the field, such as the roles of lexical frequency, geographic variation, and language attitudes, as well as the pedagogical implications of this research.

Abstract

In face-to-face spoken interactions, language learners must construct a meaningful message consistent with the L2 grammar, articulate it comprehensibly, and manage the aspects of oral communication that reflect speaker identity, interlocutor identities, and the characteristics of the interactional context. A lack of sociolinguistic competence can lead to a failure to convey formality, politeness, solidarity, friendship, and group membership, and this will negatively affect the communicative outcome. The current chapter examines the social and situational information one conveys through linguistic variants in speech, offering a state-of-the-art account of empirical research, including a discussion of pressing issues in the field, such as the roles of lexical frequency, geographic variation, and language attitudes, as well as the pedagogical implications of this research.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Chapter 1. Sociolinguistic competence and the acquisition of speaking 1
  5. Chapter 2. Speaking, interactional competencies, and mediated action 27
  6. Chapter 3. Gesture and speaking a second language 49
  7. Chapter 4. L2 talk as social accomplishment 69
  8. Chapter 5. The acquisition of L2 speaking 105
  9. Chapter 6. Exploring the spoken learner English constructicon 127
  10. Chapter 7. Creating and using the space for speaking within the foreign language classroom 153
  11. Chapter 8. Code-switching in the Spanish heritage language classroom 175
  12. Chapter 9. The Mirroring Project 197
  13. Chapter 10. Speaking in a second language 225
  14. Index 241
Speaking in a Second Language
This chapter is in the book Speaking in a Second Language
https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.17.01gee

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Chapter 1. Sociolinguistic competence and the acquisition of speaking 1
  5. Chapter 2. Speaking, interactional competencies, and mediated action 27
  6. Chapter 3. Gesture and speaking a second language 49
  7. Chapter 4. L2 talk as social accomplishment 69
  8. Chapter 5. The acquisition of L2 speaking 105
  9. Chapter 6. Exploring the spoken learner English constructicon 127
  10. Chapter 7. Creating and using the space for speaking within the foreign language classroom 153
  11. Chapter 8. Code-switching in the Spanish heritage language classroom 175
  12. Chapter 9. The Mirroring Project 197
  13. Chapter 10. Speaking in a second language 225
  14. Index 241
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