Get premium membership and access questions with answers, video lessons as well as revision papers.
The proponent of this model was Schumann (1978). Schumann defines acculturation as “the social and psychological taxonomy of factors which are believed to be important in the process of SLA in natural contexts” .According to Schumann, the process of acculturation is directly linked to acquisition. His hypothesis is that the greater the social distance between two cultures the greater the difficulty the learner will have in learning the second language and the smaller the social distance (the greater the social solidarity between two cultures) the better will be the learning situation. He advances the argument that success in acquiring a second language depends on the extent to which learners adapt fully to target culture language. He proposes two kinds of acculturations:
The learner feels affinity for the community whose language he is learning i.e. love for TL community.
The learner does not feel any affinity for the TL community i.e. dislike or indifference for the TL community.
In the first case the learner may have little problems in learning the language. But in the second case where the learner has no affinity for the community of the TL, psychological issues and social distance problems may arise. This may affect his performance because it
could result in diminished amount of input hence a negative impact on the acquisition. Schumann further argues that acculturation of learners depends on two factors: social distance and psychological distance. . All these issues are discussed below.
1. Social Distance
The concept of social distance has an important effect to the place of culture learning in second language learning. According to Schumann (1978) social distance refers to the learner as a member of a social group that is in contact with another social group whose members speak a different language. He identifies various factors that shorten the social distance and he argues that assimilation, and adaptation is the best conditions for L2 acquisition.
a. Assimilation – is obtained when the 2LL group wants to assimilate into the TL group. This is the best condition.
b. Adaptation – is the second best condition and it occurs when L2 group wants to adapt to the TL culture for intergroup interaction without assimilating into it.
Schumann argues the least favorable condition for acquiring the L2 are when the L2 group wishes to remain separated linguistically and culturally from the TL group.
2. Psychological Distance
This is caused by factors mainly affective in nature. According to Schumann the following factors affect the psychological distance:
a. Language shock ( learners’ confusion when using L2)
b. Culture shock ( learners’ disorientation as a result of cultural difference)
francis1897 answered the question on March 9, 2023 at 06:25
- What is the culture shock?(Solved)
What is the culture shock?
Date posted: March 9, 2023. Answers (1)
- What is acculturation?(Solved)
What is acculturation?
Date posted: March 9, 2023. Answers (1)
- Briefly discuss the relevance of universal grammar in SLL(Solved)
Briefly discuss the relevance of universal grammar in SLL
Date posted: March 9, 2023. Answers (1)
- Discuss the core and peripheral grammars in Universal Grammar.(Solved)
Discuss the core and peripheral grammars in Universal Grammar.
Date posted: March 9, 2023. Answers (1)
- In his theory of Universal Grammar, Chomsky raises the concepts of principles and parameters. Discuss(Solved)
In his theory of Universal Grammar, Chomsky raises the concepts of principles and parameters. Discuss
Date posted: March 9, 2023. Answers (1)
- According to Cook (in Sverker Johansson 1991), describe the two rules:
i. Structure dependency
ii. The Head parameter(Solved)
According to Cook (in Sverker Johansson 1991), describe the two rules:
i. Structure dependency
ii. The Head parameter
Date posted: March 9, 2023. Answers (1)
- Discuss the concept Universal Grammar(Solved)
Discuss the concept Universal Grammar
Date posted: March 9, 2023. Answers (1)
- Give the relevance of the Typological Universals in SLL studies(Solved)
Give the relevance of the Typological Universals in SLL studies
Date posted: March 9, 2023. Answers (1)
- Describe the three types of typological universals as distinguished by linguists(Solved)
Describe the three types of typological universals as distinguished by linguists
Date posted: March 9, 2023. Answers (1)
- Discuss the typological universals(Solved)
Discuss the typological universals
Date posted: March 9, 2023. Answers (1)
- State the two dominant approaches to the study of linguistic universals.(Solved)
State the two dominant approaches to the study of linguistic universals.
Date posted: March 9, 2023. Answers (1)
- What is a linguistic universal?(Solved)
What is a linguistic universal?
Date posted: March 9, 2023. Answers (1)
- What does the the input hypothesis involve?(Solved)
What does the the input hypothesis involve?
Date posted: March 8, 2023. Answers (1)
- With the aid of a diagram, describe the Input hypothesis Model of learning and production (adapted from Krashen, 1982:16 and 32)(Solved)
With the aid of a diagram, describe the Input hypothesis Model of learning and production (adapted from Krashen, 1982:16 and 32)
Date posted: March 8, 2023. Answers (1)
- Describe the five theories that make up the monitor model(Solved)
Describe the five theories that make up the monitor model
Date posted: March 8, 2023. Answers (1)
- What is the the monitor model?(Solved)
What is the the monitor model?
Date posted: March 8, 2023. Answers (1)
- What are the limitations of Error Analysis?(Solved)
What are the limitations of Error Analysis?
Date posted: March 8, 2023. Answers (1)
- How can you explain errors?(Solved)
How can you explain errors?
Date posted: March 8, 2023. Answers (1)
- What is the description of errors?(Solved)
What is the description of errors?
Date posted: March 8, 2023. Answers (1)
- Give a distinction between an overt error and a covert error(Solved)
Give a distinction between an overt error and a covert error
Date posted: March 8, 2023. Answers (1)