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Editor for this issue: Tomoko Okuno <tomokolinguistlist.org>
continuumbooks.com>Title: Language Acquisition and Language Socialization Subtitle: Ecological Perspectives Series Title: Advances in Applied Linguistics Publication Year: 2002 Publisher: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd http://www.continuumbooks.com Editor: Claire Kramsch, University of California, Berkeley Hardback: ISBN: 0826453716, Pages: 320, Price: GBP 60.00 Paperback: ISBN: 0826453724, Pages: 320, Price: GBP 17.99 Abstract: The book brings together well-known scholars in two relatively distinct fields -- language acquisition and language socialization -- and from a variety of orientations within applied linguistics -- psycho- and sociolinguistics, anthropological linguistics, educational linguistics -- to describe language development from a relational perspective. The notion of ecology offers a convenient metaphor for the complex variational processes that take place within individuals and between individuals and their social and cultural environment, as they attempt to learn the language of the Other. The papers in this volume are a response to three main questions discussed in the Introduction: 1) What conceptual models best capture the ecological nature of language learning? 2) What research approaches are best likely to illuminate the relationship between language and social structure? 3) How is educational success defined for language acquisition and language socialization? For researchers, the main strength of the book is its empirical and phenomenological base as well as the variety of its methodological approaches. The theme of ecology affords a fresh look into phenomena not encompassed by language acquisition or language socialization research alone. It puts into question traditional ways of looking at time, space, subjectivity, identity in the acquisition of another language and its use in a variety of social contexts. For language teachers and educators, this book attempts to eschew traditional dichotomies such as language acquisition vs. language use, and to capture the complex and holistic nature of language learning and teaching. Lingfield(s): Applied Linguistics Written In: English (Language Code: ENG)Mail to author|Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue