Thinking and Speaking in a Second Language

The language we speak affects the way we think, and bilingual acquisition and conceptualization of language-specific thinking patterns are influenced by variables such as age, proficiency, and cognitive abilities. This Element provides an overview of contemporary research on the interplay between language and cognition in speakers of two or more languages and highlights the integrative nature of L2 learning and the changing cognitive outlook in L2 speakers. It also raises theoretical and pedagogical issues that encourage teachers to incorporate recent advances in language-and-cognition research with aspects of L2 teaching.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 23 June 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Does the language we speak affect the way we think?

This Element provides a comprehensive synthesis of contemporary research on the interplay between language and cognition in speakers of two or more languages. It examines various factors that influence bilingual acquisition and the conceptualization of language-specific thinking patterns during L2 learning. An overview of diverse yet interconnected studies is presented across various conceptual domains to illustrate different approaches and key variables. The comparison of monolingual and bilingual data highlights the profound integration between L2 learning and the transformation of an individual's cognitive outlook in L2 speakers. This Element makes relevant connections between language learning and bilingual cognition, aiming to shed new light on how learners acquire conceptual distinctions of the target language(s). It also raises theoretical and pedagogical issues that encourage teachers to reflect upon how to incorporate recent advances in language-and-cognition research with aspects of L2 teaching.

Weight: 142g
Dimension: 150 x 229 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009074841