LINGUIST List 15.547

Wed Feb 11 2004

Books: Psycholinguistics: Jordan

Editor for this issue: Neil Salmond <neillinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. paul, Theory Construction in Second Language Acquisition: Jordan

Title: Theory Construction in Second Language Acquisition
			
Publication Year: 2004
Publisher:	John Benjamins
		http://www.benjamins.com/
		http://www.benjamins.nl/
			
Book URL: http://www.benjamins.nl/cgi-bin/t_bookview.cgi?bookid=LL_LT_8 

Author: Geoff Jordan, ESADE, Barcelona 

Hardback: ISBN: 1588114813, Pages: xviii, 295 pp., Price: USD 118.00
Paperback: ISBN: 1588114821, Pages: xviii, 295 pp., Price: USD 42.95

			
Abstract:

Recently, many SLA researchers have adopted a postmodernist approach
which challenges the assumption that SLA research is a rationalist,
scientific endeavour. The resulting epistemological arguments, plus
problems of theory proliferation, contradicting theories, and theory
domain, hinder progress towards a unified theory of SLA. Theory
Construction in SLA addresses these problems by returning to first
principles; it asks whether there is such a thing as reliable
knowledge, what is special about scientific method, and how we can
best explain SLA. It is the first book to use the philosophy of
science in order to examine the epistemological underpinnings of SLA
research and evaluate rival theories of SLA. Part One explores the
central issues in the philosophy of science, defends rationality
against relativists, and offers Guidelines for theory assessment. Part
Two examines different theories of SLA and evaluates them in terms of
how well they stand up to the Guidelines.

Table of contents

Acknowledgements xiii 
Abstract xv 
The Guidelines (Abridged) xvii 

Part 1. Some fundamental issues concerning the construction and
	assessment of theories of SLA
1. Key terms and current problems in SLA 5 
2. Research methodology: Rationalism and its critics 19 
3. Recent relativists 51 
4. In defence of rationalism 69 
5. The construction and assessment of theories of SLA 87 

Part 2. A critical rationalist review of some hypotheses, models and
	theories of SLA
6. Chomsky 123 
7. The role of UG in an explanation of SLA 151 
8. Approaches to SLA that o.end the guidelines 167 
9. Signs of progress 203 
10. Explaining SLA 251
 
Bibliography 267 
Name index 287 
Subject index 291


Lingfield(s):	Psycholinguistics
		Second Language Acquisition (Psycholinguistics) 			 

Written In:	English (Language Code: ENG)


 See this book announcement on our website: 
 http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=9055.