CONCEIVING LANGUAGE AS A COMPLEX ADAPTIVE SYSTEM: A PROBLEM FOR SLA RESEARCHERS?
The present article aims at discussing the impact of the adoption of a perspective which conceives language as a Complex Adaptive System on the Second Language Acquisition research work. In order to achieve this goal, the text first presents a definition of language as a Complex Adaptive, as opposed...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | Portuguese |
Published: |
Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul
2014-03-01
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Series: | Signo |
Online Access: | http://online.unisc.br/seer/index.php/signo/article/view/4231 |
Summary: | The present article aims at discussing the impact of the adoption of a perspective which conceives language as a Complex Adaptive System on the Second Language Acquisition research work. In order to achieve this goal, the text first presents a definition of language as a Complex Adaptive, as opposed to the perspective which traditionally permeates research in the field. Next, the main contributions of such a perspective to Second Language Acquisition are addressed. Finally, the implications of adopting this perspective for research in the field are approached. It is argued that conceiving language as a Complex Adaptive System presupposes a paradigm shift on the view of what this object of study is. As a consequence, researchers need to take into account multiple factors in interaction. Although, at first, this necessity might be faced as a problem for conducting scientific research on the field, it is concluded that this necessity may actually be seen as a motivational factor. |
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ISSN: | 0101-1812 1982-2014 |