The Discourse Theory Ranjit
Kumar Jha
KathmanduUniversity2012
Second
language Acquisition or second language learning is the process by which people
learn a second language. Second language acquisition is also the name of the
scientific discipline devoted to studying that process. Second language refers
to any language learned in addition to a person’s first language; although the
concept is named second language acquisition, it can also incorporated the
learning of third ,forth or subsequent language.
Second language
acquisition is totally conscious process because it has some rules and
regulations, theoretical concept or some structural pattern or systems. The
language that we learn consciously after the first language is second language
acquisition.
One of the most
controversial issues in second language learning/acquisition theories is how
learners learn second language. There has been a lot of discussion and the
debate regarding this issues but the final solution is yet to be discovered. Discussion
of second language acquisition process became a very controversial issue in 60s
and 70s mainly after the emergence of the mentalist approach to learning theory
led by Noam Chomsky, who propose the view that language learning is habit
formation only language can only learned by reward and punishment. Behaviorist
theory believe that language learned as the formation of behavior.
In this article,I
should like to discussion about the Discourse theory in second language
acquisition with particular references to the strengths and weaknesses of the
many studies carried out at that time.
The
Discourse Theory
There has been no
shortage of theorizing about second language acquisition. The research
literature abounds in approaches, theories ,models, laws, and principles.
Discourse theory refers
to the process in which language can learned by communicating with the target
language speaker. It follows from a theory of language use, in which communication
is treated as the matrix of linguistic knowledge that language development
should be considered in terms of how the learners discover the meaning
potential of language by participating in communication. If we want learn or
acquire the second language or target language. The main ways to learn that by
make a hot interaction with the target language speaker. We should need many
exposure that make we habituated to use target language.
Halliday,(1975) shows
that the development of the formal linguistic devices for realizing basic
language function grows out of the interpersonal uses to which language is put.
It can be learnt through learning to communicate.
The
Behaviorist Theory and Second language Acquisition
According to behaviorists learning theory, old habit get in the way of
learning new habits, and SLA is strongly influenced by learners L1.there is a popular
belief that the role of L1 in SLA is a negative one, that is L1 gets in the way
or interference with the learning of L2.some researches like Bright and McGregor(1970),believed that when SLA is
concerned ,the grammatical apparatus programmed into the mind as the first
language interference with the smooth acquisition of the second. the vector of “interference” was the result of
what was called “proactive inhibition”. this is concerned with the ways in
which previous learning prevents or inhibits the learning of new habits.
Discourse
theory on SLA
Among all the theory of second language acquisition
,Discourse theory is one of the major and most reliable theory applied in
second language acquisition The discourse theory has great implications in an
educational context. It shows how written, visual and oral texts give more
depth to the text when the context is understood more deeply in the relevant
circumstances in the social context. Instructional dialogue should be closely
linked to the particular scenario in a classroom. The thoughts and connections
between teachers and students during the process of teaching and learning
acquisition develop the rigorous nature of pedagogy.
Discourse
involving in child learners
Discourse theory is a
very useful for child learners .child have some specific mental structure to acquire the language very rastely, and when child involves in
participating in different language learners than they can get better mastery
over the language. They interact better than the adults. They have very less
chance to make mistake at any cost .they enjoy to interact without any hesitations
.Hatch shows that in child learners discourse, conversations typically competence
with attempts by the child to “open the channels “by calling for adults attentions.
The adult then responds by identifying the object that appears to have attracted
the child’s attention and the child repeats the have of the objects.
Classroom
Implications of the Discourse theory
Discourse theory has a
very important role in second language teaching. There are so many methods and
techniques that we use for teaching and learning the target language in
language classroom. Discourse theory supposed to one of the very effective
method for learning the target language. teacher should create an interactive
environment in language classroom. They try to make them involve in discussion
in target language.
Criticisms/weaknesses
of the discourse theory
Although this is a very
effective theory, this theory is criticized by many of the people. The main criticism the theory deserves in the methodological
weakness. There is no certain method that we imply to the learners directly. Language
cannot be learnt while learners hadn’t
interest to make interaction. It depends the mood of the learners. may be the
learners feel shy to communicate with others .In that case, this theory became failure.
There should be requirement of mastery over on vocabulary to interact with
target language learners.
Conclusion
In conclusion,
Discourse theory is one of the effective theory for second language acquisition.
One of the controversial issue in second language acquisition in 60s and 70s
was now learners learn second language. Discourse theory is one of the modern
theory applied in second language acquisition. Traditionally, second language
teaching was based on the follow of rules and structure which assumed that
language can be learned by following the grammatical pattern or structure of
the target language. This theory is criticized by different grammarians and
structural linguist saying that language is not a process of communicative and
practice but a structural practice and memorization which the learners has
already in their mind.
References
1. Ellis,R
1985.Understanding second language Acquisition .Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
2. Ellis
.R 1994.The study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford Applied
Linguistics.
3. Chomsky,
N.1959.Behaviourist Theory. Cambridge Press.
4. Krashen,S.1974.TheoryofSecondLanguageAcquisition.Cambridge:Cambredge.
University press.
5. Wikipedia
of Second Language Acquisition.(internet)
6. Krashen,S.1982.Second
Language Acquisition and Second Language learning. University of California:
University press.
7. An
Airticle of Discourse Theory On child Language Learners.
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