First Language Attrition: Interdisciplinary perspectives on methodological issues(28 Studies in Bilingualism)

This volume provides a state-of-the-art treatment of research on language attrition, the non-pathological loss of a language through lack of exposure. It combines a review of past and present research with in-depth treatments of specific theoretical and methodological issues and reports on individual studies. Special prominence is given to the identification of problematic areas in attrition research, with a view to pointing out possible solutions. The book specifically addresses itself to those who wish to acquaint themselves with the research area of language attrition, providing them with both a thorough overview of the field and a basis on which to build their own research. The combination of experience and an innovative outlook present in this collection, however, make it a valuable source for those familiar with attrition as well. Especially useful to both beginners and veterans is the extensive annotated bibliography.

Table of Contents:
1. Acknowledgment; 1. List of tables; 2. Preface; 2. Language attrition: The next phase (by Kopke, Barbara); 3. Studying the element order of Old Germanic languages; 3. Part I. Theoretical models and methodological aspects; 4. How to study element order in translated texts; 4. L2 influence and L1 attrition in adult bilingualism (by Pavlenko, Aneta); 5. A sociocultural approach for language attrition (by Jimenez Jimenez, Antonio F.); 5. The V-second phenomenon; 6. Verb-initial main declarative clauses; 6. Perceived language dominance and language preference for emotional speech: The implications for attrition research (by Dewaele, Jean-Marc); 7. The role of grammaticality judgments in investigating first language attrition: A cross-disciplinary perspective (by Altenberg, Evelyn P.); 7. Element order in subordinate clauses; 8. Element order in conjunct clauses; 8. Part II. Attrition in progress - observations and descriptions; 9. The position of objects; 9. Issues in finding the appropriate methodology in language attrition research (by Yagmur, Kutlay); 10. Translation strategies; 10. Language contact and attrition: The spoken French of Israeli Francophones (by Ben-Rafael, Miriam); 11. Is there a natural process of decay?: A longitudinal study of language attrition (by Hutz, Matthias); 11. Text-specific and language-specific element order patterns in OE and OHG translations; 12. In search of the lost language: The case of adopted Koreans in France (by Ventureyra, Valerie A.G.); 13. Part III. How the study of attrition can contribute to the understanding of language; 14. Attrition in L1 competence: The case of Turkish (by Gurel, Ayse); 15. Methodological aspects of a generative-based attrition study (by McCormack, Bede); 16. Convergent outcomes in L2 acquisition and L1 loss (by Montrul, Silvina A.); 17. A modest proposal: Explaining language attrition in the context of contact linguistics (by Gross, Steven); 18. No more reductions! - To the problem of evaluation of language attrition data (by Schmitt, Elena); 19. Language attrition research: An annotated bibliography (by Schmid, Monika S.); 20. A new blueprint for language attrition research (by Schmid, Monika S.)

Review :
This book collection of 13 papers presents the audience exciting research during the past decade in attrition research, but certainly highlights the complexity in this area in terms of theoretical foundation, methodologies, sampling and analysis. To be more specific, there are valuable results from the series of research worthwhile to point out and further pursue along the path.