Language Processing and Second Language Development: Processability theory
Abstract
This book marks a new development in the field of second language acquisition research. It explores the way in which language processing mechanisms shape the course of language development. Language Processing and Second Language Development thus adds one major psychological component to the search for a theory of second language acquisition. The core of the book is Pienemann’s Processability Theory which spells out which second language forms are processable at which developmental stage. The theory is based on recent research into language processing and is formalised within Lexical-Functional Grammar. The predictions of the theory are applied to the second language development of English, German, Japanese and Swedish. The theory is also tested in on-line experiments. In addition, Processability Theory has major implications for interlanguage variation (including task variation) and age-related differences in language acquisition. All of these issues are explored from a processing perspective with theoretical and empirical rigor.
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Processability Theory focuses on the developmental stages of language acquisition and highlights the importance of explicit instruction in guiding learners through these stages.
“The Processability Theory, on the other hand, focuses on the developmental stages of language acquisition and highlights the importance of explicit instruction in guiding learners through these stages.”
From Transformative impacts of explicit morphological instruction on irregular inflectional acquisition in Saudi EFL learners (2024) · cites this paper as Pienemann, 1998
Learners benefit from explicit instruction and ample practice in processing and producing language forms.
“According to these theories, learners benefit from explicit instruction and ample practice in processing and producing language forms.”
From Transformative impacts of explicit morphological instruction on irregular inflectional acquisition in Saudi EFL learners (2024) · cites this paper as Pienemann, 1998
The findings of this study reveal the significance of the Input Processing Theory by VanPatten (1996) and The Processability Theory by Pienemann (1998).
“Also, the findings of this study reveal the significance of the Input Processing Theory by VanPatten (1996) and The Processability Theory by Pienemann (1998).”
From Transformative impacts of explicit morphological instruction on irregular inflectional acquisition in Saudi EFL learners (2024) · cites this paper as Pienemann (1998)
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Cited by 802
- Authors
- Pienemann, M.
- Affiliations
- Australian National University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Pienemann, Manfred
- ORCID
- Pienemann, Manfred
- Venue
- Studies in Bilingualism
- Publisher
- John Benjamins Publishing Company
- Published
- 1998-07-15
- ISSN
- 0928-1533 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4248550050
- Cited by
- 802
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 47 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 122 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 76 · 2018: 37 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 53 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 8.80
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Studies in bilingualism (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Second Language Acquisition and Learning
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
- Keywords
- second language acquisition, language processing, processability theory, Lexical-Functional Grammar, interlanguage variation, task variability, developmental stages, English as a second language, German as a second language, Japanese as a second language, Swedish as a second language, online processing
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