Methods for studying the acquisition of a new language under controlled input conditions

Abstract

The VILLA project ("Varieties of Initial Learners in Language Acquisition: Controlled classroom input and elementary forms of linguistic organisation") studies the very first phases of the process of language acquisition and establishes a tight link between learners' achievements in different domains of linguistic knowledge and the input they received. Novice adult and child learners with five different native languages (Dutch, English, French, German, Italian) were exposed to fourteen hours of input in Polish that was provided in a communicative classroom setting. Whereas the exposure conditions and the content of the input were kept constant for all learner groups, the age of the learners and the amount of metalinguistic information provided was varied between groups. Acquisition of different target language properties (phonology, morpho-syntax, discourse-pragmatics) was observed longitudinally through a series of tasks and experiments repeated over time. The paper presents the methodological set-up of the project and summarizes first results.

Discussion: How Different Can Perspectives on L2 Development Be?

“…Instead, we need to concentrate on restricted subsystems whose functioning and development is still far from being understood. The VILLA project (Dimroth et al., ) aims to uncover the developing internal structure of nascent learner varieties and relate it to input properties.…”

Beyond Statistical Learning: Communication Principles and Language Internal Factors Shape Grammar in Child and Adult Beginners Learning Polish Through Controlled Exposure

“…In addition to learner groups exposed to meaning‐based input, there were also groups with form‐based input (for details, see Dimroth et al., ).…”

L’impact de l’input et du type de tâche sur la production de la morphologie nominale en polonais par des apprenants francophones débutants

“…Notre étude fait partie d'un projet plus vaste sur le traitement initial de l'input (projet « Varieties of Initial Learners in Language Acquisition » [VILLA], Dimroth et al ., 2013) qui s'inscrit dans la tradition fonctionnaliste des travaux en acquisition des langues (Perdue, 1993a).…”

“…Finalement, une étude menée par Rast (2008) permettant de suivre les toutes premières étapes d'acquisition sur une période plus longue (8 heures) a donné des résultats prometteurs. Le projet VILLA 1 (voir Dimroth et al ., 2013) dont une partie des données est analysée dans cette contribution, s'est donné les moyens d'étudier les toutes premières étapes d'acquisition en relation avec les caractéristiques de l'input soigneusement contrôlé par des enregistrements vidéo et audio.…”

“…Et d'autre part, par la correspondance avec d'autres tâches, qui testent l'acquisition du même paradigme mais à travers d'autres types de compétences telles que p. ex. la compréhension (pour plus de détails sur les tâches du projet VILLA, voir Dimroth et al ., 2013).…”