Chapter 2. Rediscovering prediction
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Terence Odlin
Abstract
This chapter focuses on predictions involving language transfer, which are among the predictions that Selinker (1972) regarded as feasible. Recent studies (e.g., Jarvis 2002) show results that make plausible some predictions for novel SLA contexts (e.g., “Speakers of Finnish as a group will have a greater difficulty with the articles of Portuguese than will speakers of Swedish as a group”). Although predictions involving structures such as articles seem viable (along with some inferences about their significance for what Selinker called the Latent Psychological Structure), there are limits on predictability. Group tendencies often seem predictable but individual behavior much less so, particularly in light of three phenomena considered in the chapter: multilingualism, idiosyncrasy in IL forms, and idiosyncrasy in IL meanings.
Abstract
This chapter focuses on predictions involving language transfer, which are among the predictions that Selinker (1972) regarded as feasible. Recent studies (e.g., Jarvis 2002) show results that make plausible some predictions for novel SLA contexts (e.g., “Speakers of Finnish as a group will have a greater difficulty with the articles of Portuguese than will speakers of Swedish as a group”). Although predictions involving structures such as articles seem viable (along with some inferences about their significance for what Selinker called the Latent Psychological Structure), there are limits on predictability. Group tendencies often seem predictable but individual behavior much less so, particularly in light of three phenomena considered in the chapter: multilingualism, idiosyncrasy in IL forms, and idiosyncrasy in IL meanings.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
- Chapter 1. Enduring questions from the Interlanguage Hypothesis 7
- Chapter 2. Rediscovering prediction 27
- Chapter 3. From Julie to Wes to Alberto 47
- Chapter 4. Interlanguage, transfer and fossilization 75
- Chapter 5. The limits of instruction 105
- Chapter 6. Documenting interlanguage development 127
- Chapter 7. Methodological influences of “Interlanguage” (1972) 147
- Chapter 8. Trying out theories on interlanguage 173
- Chapter 9. Another step to be taken – Rethinking the end point of the interlanguage continuum 203
- Chapter 10. Interlanguage 40 years on 221
- Name index 247
- Subject index 253
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
- Chapter 1. Enduring questions from the Interlanguage Hypothesis 7
- Chapter 2. Rediscovering prediction 27
- Chapter 3. From Julie to Wes to Alberto 47
- Chapter 4. Interlanguage, transfer and fossilization 75
- Chapter 5. The limits of instruction 105
- Chapter 6. Documenting interlanguage development 127
- Chapter 7. Methodological influences of “Interlanguage” (1972) 147
- Chapter 8. Trying out theories on interlanguage 173
- Chapter 9. Another step to be taken – Rethinking the end point of the interlanguage continuum 203
- Chapter 10. Interlanguage 40 years on 221
- Name index 247
- Subject index 253
