Return to search

Construction of context and language acquisition through interaction: a semiotic investigation among Chilean English language learners

Informe de Seminario para optar al grado de Licenciado en Lengua y Literatura Inglesa / Second Language Acquisition (SLA) theory has traditionally focused on the mere learning of linguistic contents. Context from a semiotic perspective is an emerging field which is now taking increasing importance in the area, since recent research has highlighted the relevance of context when communicating in a second language (L2). This study focuses on the ways in which Chilean English language learners use a L2 in order to communicate their real-life experiences, skills and knowledge. The purpose of the study is to understand the functional categories through which context is collectively constructed to facilitate communication in a second language. To develop this study, 18 sessions about various topics were recorded with language learners, participants in each one were three novices and one expert who taught them. Eight of these recordings were selected as meaningful data and thoroughly analysed regarding context making and interaction. Through the analysis, three functional categories were identified as commonly used to establish a common context: learners’ prior knowledge, question/response routines and common sense. Additionally, non-verbal communication and discourse markers played an important role as supporters of interaction. As a conclusion, this study shows that the category of prior knowledge was the most recurrent strategy used to establish a common context. Nonetheless, the three previously mentioned categories are necessarily intertwined to interact in a second language.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:UCHILE/oai:repositorio.uchile.cl:2250/143376
Date January 2016
CreatorsBarría Jaramillo, Valeria, Cifuentes Culaciati, Elisa, Cuevas Jara, Yaritza, Espinoza Arce, España, Saavedra Acosta, Valentina, Vargas Cisternas, Paula, Vásquez Bermejo, Camila, Vivar Jelic, Felipe
ContributorsAtoofi, Saeid, Doddis Jara, Alfonsina
PublisherUniversidad de Chile
Source SetsUniversidad de Chile
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeTesis
RightsAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Chile, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/cl/

Page generated in 0.0016 seconds