View Chapters

Book: Key Terms for Language Teachers

Chapter: L1 and L2 Acquisition

DOI: 10.1558/equinox.38041

Blurb:

• Overall, L1 and L2 acquisition, to a certain extent, share the same processes and mechanisms for the development of an internal language system.
• The difference context of L1 and L2 acquisition plays an important role in the acquisition
process. While it is possible to learn an L2 in various contexts, L1 acquisition takes place only in a natural context and in the social group the child is growing up and where the child gets L1 input only.
• Difference between L1 and L2 can be attributed to external factors (e.g. quality and quantity of input) and not internal processes.

Chapter Contributors

  • Alessandro Benati (abenati@aus.edu - abenati) 'American University of Sharjah'