The Handbook of Second Language Acquisition: (Blackwell Handbooks in Linguistics)

The Handbook of Second Language Acquisition presents an integrated discussion of key, and sometimes controversial, issues in second language acquisition (SLA) research. Written by twenty-seven of the world's leading scholars, the chapters reflect the diversity and technicality that have come to characterize SLA research. Topics discussed include the biological and cognitive underpinnings of SLA; mechanisms, processes, and constraints on SLA; the level of ultimate attainment; research methods; and the status of SLA as a cognitive science. This volume is an invaluable resource for all students and scholars of human cognition, including those in linguistics, psychology, applied linguistics, ESL, foreign languages, and cognitive science.

Table of Contents:
List of Contributors. Acknowledgments. Part I: Overview:1. The Scope of Inquiry and Goals of SLA: Catherine J. Doughty and Michael H. Long (University of Hawai'i). Part II: Capacity and Representation:2. On the Nature of Interlanguage Representation: Universal Grammar in the Second Language: Lydia White (McGill University). 3. The Radical Middle: Nativism without Universal Grammar: William O'Grady (University of Hawai'i). 4. Constructions, Chunking, and Connectionism: The Emergence of Second Language Structure: Nick C. Ellis (University of Wales, Bangor). 5. Cognitive Processes in Second Language Learners and Bilinguals: The Development of Lexical and Conceptual Representations: Judith F. Kroll (Pennsylvania State University) and Gretchen Sunderman (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign). 6. Near-Nativeness: Antonella Sorace (University of Edinburgh). Part III: Environments for SLA:7. Language Socialization in SLA: Karen Ann Watson-Gegeo (University of California, Davis) and Sarah Nielsen (Las Positas College). 8. Social Context: Jeff Siegel (University of New England, Armadale/University of Hawai'i). 9. Input and Interaction: Susan M. Gass (Michigan State University). 10. Instructed SLA: Constraints, Compensation, and Enhancement: Catherine J. Doughty (University of Hawai'i). Part IV: Processes in SLA:11. Implicit and Explicit Learning: Robert M. DeKeyser (University of Pittsburgh). 12. Incidental and Intentional Learning: Jan H. Hulstijn (University of Amsterdam). 13. Automaticity and Second Languages: Norman Segalowitz (Concordia University). 14. Variation: Suzanne Romaine (Merton College, University of Oxford). 15. Cross-linguistic Influence: Terence Odlin (Ohio State University). 16. Stabilization and Fossilization in Interlanguage Development: Michael H. Long (University of Hawai'i). Part V: Biological and Psychological Constraints:17. Maturational Constraints in SLA: Kenneth Hyltenstam and Niclas Abrahamsson (Stockholm University). 18. Individual Differences in Second Language Learning: Zoltan Dornyei (University of Nottingham) and Peter Skehan (King's College, London). 19. Attention and Memory during SLA: Peter Robinson (Aoyama Gakuin University). 20. Language Processing Capacity: Manfred Pienemann (Paderborn University). Part VI: Research Methods:21. Defining and Measuring SLA: John Norris and Lourdes Ortega (Northern Arizona University). 22. Data Collection in SLA Research: Craig Chaudron (University of Hawai'i). Part VII: The State of SLA:23. SLA Theory: Construction and Assessment: Kevin Gregg (Momoyama Gakuin (St. Andrew's) University). 24. SLA and Cognitive Science: Michael H. Long and Catherine J. Doughty (University of Hawai'i). Index.

About the Author :
Catherine J. Doughty is Associate Professor in the Department of Second Language Studies at the University of Hawai'i, Manoa. Her research examines the cognitive underpinnings of pedagogical interventions, instructed SLA, focus on form, and negotiation of meaning. She is the author of Focus on Form in Second Language Acquisition (1998). Michael H. Long is Professor in the Department of Second Language Studies at the University of Hawai'i, Manoa. He is the author of numerous books and articles on second language acquisition, including Problems in SLA (forthcoming), and in 1991 received TESOL's International Research Prize.

Review :
"Catherine Doughty and Michael Long have emerged as two of the most knowledgeable, authoritative, and sanest voices in the current contentious debates over truth claims in second language acquisition. Their stewardship of the chapters in this volume - and authorship of two articles plus an overview and an interesting afterword that treats SLA as cognitive science - has produced some very strong critical summaries of several central ideas in these debates. The range and depth of many of the chapters is great and I have learned much from revisiting subjects I thought I knew well, such as transfer, fossilization, and individual variation." Larry Selinker, New York University "Arguing that SLA research should be viewed as a branch of cognitive science, the editors have served up a feast for, and about, the mind. This Handbook will be read, consulted, and referred to again and again." Diane Larsen-Freeman, University of Michigan "The Handbook of Second Language Acquisition lives up to its name: it provides a remarkable overview of the field, whose future the editors intelligently advocate to be an integral constituent of cognitive science. A rainbow of topics and theoretical stances promises much stimulation to a wide readership. The volume will no doubt serve as a highly appreciated resource for novice and expert alike." Bonnie D. Schwartz, University of Hawaii "Highly recommended." Choice