Understanding the linguistic variation in English as a lingua franca among Arab siblings
Abstract
This study investigated the various linguistic, psychological, and sociocultural variables that explain the variation in English as a Lingua Franca among Arab siblings. The variables are not predetermined but extracted from the participants’ contributions and data in a grounded theory research. The siblings participated in this study (N=15) are university undergraduates, who are educated in the UAE schools. Results showed that the existence of the Language Acquisition Device (LAD) is not evidence that siblings progress in language acquisition at the same rate. The discourse analysis showed noticeable variation between siblings in the same and/or other groups. Sibling pairs proved to have variation in their linguistic levels exhibiting dissimilar levels of accuracy, fluency, L1 interference, spontaneity, and automaticity of speech. Some of these siblings have equal opportunities for improving their English; however, the analysis showed other affective variables influencing the development of language skills among them. The thematic analysis signalled three variables namely exposure to quality input and interaction opportunities, provision of quality education, and autonomy and independent activities. Eight of the fifteen participants attributed their deficiency in English to the inefficiency of the education system that did not facilitate sufficient exposure to linguistic input. Autonomy and independence proved to be effectual in creating the variation among siblings as well. This study sheds light on the significance of contextual factors in influencing proficiency levels among EFL learners in the UAE. The implications and recommendations of research findings are discussed.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
References
Abrams, M. and Harpham, G. (2005). A Glossary of Literary Terms. Boston, MA: Thomson, Wadsworth.
Al Ghazali, F. (2006). First Language Acquisition Vs. Second Language Learning: What Is the Difference?
Birmingham: The University of Birmingham.
Allwright, R. (1987) ‘Concluding comments on second language acquisition in context’: in Ellis, R. (ed.) Second
Language Acquisition in context. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, Prentice Hall. (P. 209-212).
Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3:
-101.
Charmaz, C. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide Through Qualitative Analysis. London:
Sage.
Chomsky, N. (1981) Lectures on Government and Binding. Dordrecht: Foris.
Crooks D. L. (2001). The importance of symbolic interaction in grounded theory research on women’s health.
Health Care for Women International, 22, 11-27.
Dale, P., Harlaar, N., Haworth, C., and Plomin, R. (2010). Two by Two: A Twin Study of Second-Language
Acquisition. Psychological Science, 21/5, 635-640.
Dey, I. (1999). Grounding grounded theory: Guidelines for qualitative inquiry. San Diego: Academic Press.
Donato, R. and Mccormick, D. (194). A sociocultural perspective on language learning strategies: The role of
Mediation. The Modern Language Journal. 78/iv, 453-464.
Dörnyei, Z. (2001). Teaching and Researching Motivation. Harlow: Longman.
Ehrman, M. E. (1996) Understanding Second Language Learning Difficulties. California: SAGE Publications.
Ellis, R. (1997) Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: OUP.
Gardner, R. C., Tremblay, P. F., and Masgoret, A.-M. (1997). Towards a full model of second language learning:
an empirical investigation. Modern Language Journal. 81, 344-62.
Gass, S. (2002). An interactionist perspective on second language acquisition. In R. Kaplan (Ed.), The Oxford
handbook of Applied Linguistics, (pp. 170-181). Oxford: OUP.
Glaser, B. G. and Strauss, A. L. (1967). The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research.
New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
Grigorenko, E. L. (2002). Language-based learning disabilities. In P. Robinson (ed.), Individual Differences and
Instructed Language Learning. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 95-113.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1986) Learning how to mean: Explorations in the development of language. London,
Edward Arnold.
Ingram, D. (1989) First Language Acquisition: Method, Description and Explanation. Cambridge: CUP.
Jones, M. and Alony, I. (2011). Guiding the use of grounded theory in doctoral studies: An example from the
Australian film industry. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, V. (6), 95-114.
Krashen, S. D. (1985) The Input Hypothesis. London, Longman.
Lemetyinen, H. (2012). Language Acquisition. Retrieved on March 18th, 2017 from
www.simplypsychology.org/language.html
Lightbown, P. M. and Spada, N. (2001) ‘Factors affecting second language learning’: In Candlin, C. N. and
Mercer, N. (eds.) English language teaching in its social context. London, Routledge.
Miyake, A. and Friedman, D. (1998). Individual differences in second language proficiency: working memory as
language aptitude. In A. Healy and L. Bourne (eds), Foreign Language Learning: Psycholinguistic Studies on Training and Retention. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Oxford, R. L. (1999) ‘Anxiety and the language learner: new insights’: In Arnold, J. (ed.), Affect in Language
Learning. Cambridge, CUP. (P. 58-67).
Ozfidan, B., Machtmes, K., and Demir, H. (2014). Socio-cultural factors in second language learning: A case
study of adventurous adult language learners. European Journal of Educational Research. 3/4, 185-191.
Paradis, J. (2011). Individual differences in child English second language acquisition. Linguistic Approaches to
Bilingualism (1/3), 213-237.
Rathold, N. (2012). Social factors in second language acquisition. Retrieved on 19/03/2017 From
https://omjaeducation.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/social-factors-in-second-language-acquisition/
Rowley, J. (2002). Using case studies in research. Management Research News. V/25, 16-27
Sawyer, M. and Ranta, L. (2001). Aptitude, individual differences, and instructional design. In P. Robinson (ed.),
Cognition and Second Language Acquisition. New York: CUP, 319-53.
Skehan, P. (1991). Individual differences in second language learning. Studies in Second Language Acquisition.
, 275-98.
Skinner, B.F. (1957). Verbal Behaviour. Acton, MA: Copley Publishing Group.
Stevens, G. and Ishizawa, H. (2007). Variation among Siblings in the Use of a Non-English Language. Journal
of Family Issues. 28/8, 1008-1025.
Swain, M. (1985). Communicative Competence: Some Roles of Comprehensible Input and Comprehensible
Output in its Development. In S. Gass & C. Madden (Eds.), Input in Second Language Acquisition. Rowley, MA: Newbury House
Van Dijk, A. (2006). Ideology and discourse analysis. Journal of Political Ideologies, 11/2, 115-140.
Vygotsky, L.S. (1978). Mind in society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Massachusetts:
Harvard University Press.
Yin, R. K. (1994). Case Study Research: Design and Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
ISSN 1305-578X (Online)
Copyright © 2005-2022 by Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies