Bridging the Gap between L2 Acquisition and Processing

Book excerpt: This edited volume offers a critical review of recent research in both second language (L2) acquisition and processing, with a focus on understanding potential differences between L1 and L2 processing. Examining the use of syntactic information, functional morphology, and semantic/discourse cues during online sentence processing, the book comprises six insightful chapters. The first two chapters provide current findings on L2 processing of syntactic and discourse information, particularly in resolving relative clause attachment ambiguity. The subsequent two chapters shed light on L2 processing and acquisition of functional morphology, while the final two chapters enrich our understanding of L2 speaking skills by integrating cognitive, psychological, and socio-economic analyses with insights from speech act and politeness theories. This collection not only provides valuable perspectives for researchers exploring the similarities and differences between L1 and L2 processing but also offers new perspectives for educators and students grappling with the complexities of L2 acquisition and instruction.