First language acquisition studies reveal that children overextend the minimal distance principle (MDP) during their acquisition of infinitive complement structures. The MDP dictates the interpretation of the logical subject of the infinitive in these structures and overrides marked lexical features such as subject control. Misinterpretations by…

The "natural" acquisition of a second language is compared to learning from instruction, including aspects of learning such as sequence of items learned (e.g., syntactic) for both children and adults. It is concluded that suggestions offered hitherto for applying findings from research in natural acquisition to the field of foreign language…

During the past ten years, research on second language acquisition (SLA) has expanded; at the same time, different models and hypotheses have been proposed to explain and account for the processes underlying SLA. Four models seem to be dominant at the present time: (1) the monitor model, which distinguishes between implicit or unconscious language…

This issue of the "SLANT" Newsletter for researchers in second language acquisition is highlighted by a survey on research in Canada by Fred Genesee (including a bibliography and reports of research in progress), and a report on "Second Language Acquisition in the Middle East," by Gregory James. The latter article discusses…

Explores four major areas of differences between first- and second-language acquisition (completeness, equipotentiality, previous knowledge, and fossilization) and argues that the theory of Universal Grammar plays a much smaller role in explaining the second-language acquisition process than current research claims. (Author/CB)

Looks at recent research on learners' intake of a second language and concludes that second language research has inadequately explored the process of intake. Argues that both theory and the research derived from it need to develop consistent, well-defined models and methods for investigating language learners' processing of input. (SED)

Investigates the apparent correspondences for infinitival "to," and analyzes the basis for the common error of equating it with "a"--the mistaken identification of an English grammatical complementizer with a Spanish lexical preposition. (SL)

Discusses how current applied and sociolinguistic research and theory, which reveals the naturalness of language variation and productive aspects of error-making, seriously challenges traditional second language learning practices and postulates. (EKN)

Discusses the distinctions that exist among the uses of "ser" and "estar" in Spanish. They are explained with reference to the semantic values present in the three basic functions of these verbs: principal, auxiliary, and attributive. (NCR)

Discusses the importance of the nonverbal component in second language learning, and describes research on the role of kinesics in language. (AM)

Discusses recent analyses of the adjective in Italian and stresses the importance of the position of the Italian adjective for second language learners of Italian and for Italians learning foreign languages. (CFM)

A conference was held in Montreal in November 1975 which focused on research related to the immersion approach to second language teaching. Background information and purposes of the conference are given. (RM)

Responds to some of the arguments in Firth and Wagner's (F&W's) article appearing in this issue. Argues that whether one uses a psychological or sociological paradigm, it makes sense to follow the practice of assigning preference to experimental rather than naturalistic settings and agrees with F&W that other factors besides one's proficiency in…

Presents an annotated bibliography summarizing theoretically grounded reports of research and discussions of central issues in second- and foreign-language writing and writing instruction recently available. (CK)

Analyzes the grammatical scaffolding by teacher and second language learner of causal explanations that form part of work by a group of second language students in a project on the human brain. Shows how a systemic functional linguistics analysis reveals different aspects of recast data sequences than does a focus on form approach. (Author/VWL)