Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Thinking for speaking

Bylund, Emanuel and Athanasopoulos, Panos LU (2024) p.37-46
Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of current research on thinking-for-speaking and second language acquisition. The Thinking-for-Speaking hypothesis (Slobin, 1996) posits that whilst in the process of producing speech, speakers channel their attention according to the linguistic categories of their language. As a result, speakers of different languages think differently during speech production. With regards to L2 learning, the Thinking-for-Speaking hypothesis predicts that the language-specific thinking patterns acquired through the L1 are likely to prevent adult L2 learners from attaining target-like thinking patterns in the L2. Against this background, the chapter summarises the empirical research on this question, with a specific... (More)
This chapter provides an overview of current research on thinking-for-speaking and second language acquisition. The Thinking-for-Speaking hypothesis (Slobin, 1996) posits that whilst in the process of producing speech, speakers channel their attention according to the linguistic categories of their language. As a result, speakers of different languages think differently during speech production. With regards to L2 learning, the Thinking-for-Speaking hypothesis predicts that the language-specific thinking patterns acquired through the L1 are likely to prevent adult L2 learners from attaining target-like thinking patterns in the L2. Against this background, the chapter summarises the empirical research on this question, with a specific emphasis on motion event construal. It is shown that thinking-for-speaking in a target-like fashion in the L2 may be attained by learners at more advanced levels of L2 proficiency. The chapter ends with methodological observations for future research on thinking-for-speaking in an L2. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
The Routledge Handbook of Second Language Acquisition, Morphosyntax, and Semantics
editor
Ionin, Tania ; Montrul, Silvina and Slabakova, Roumyana
pages
37 - 46
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:85201889205
ISBN
9781032535005
9781003412373
DOI
10.4324/9781003412373-5
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9807f78c-0679-4f39-a4d5-c1921e78f3ec
date added to LUP
2024-05-07 13:54:06
date last changed
2025-11-12 20:13:53
@inbook{9807f78c-0679-4f39-a4d5-c1921e78f3ec,
  abstract     = {{This chapter provides an overview of current research on thinking-for-speaking and second language acquisition. The Thinking-for-Speaking hypothesis (Slobin, 1996) posits that whilst in the process of producing speech, speakers channel their attention according to the linguistic categories of their language. As a result, speakers of different languages think differently during speech production. With regards to L2 learning, the Thinking-for-Speaking hypothesis predicts that the language-specific thinking patterns acquired through the L1 are likely to prevent adult L2 learners from attaining target-like thinking patterns in the L2. Against this background, the chapter summarises the empirical research on this question, with a specific emphasis on motion event construal. It is shown that thinking-for-speaking in a target-like fashion in the L2 may be attained by learners at more advanced levels of L2 proficiency. The chapter ends with methodological observations for future research on thinking-for-speaking in an L2.}},
  author       = {{Bylund, Emanuel and Athanasopoulos, Panos}},
  booktitle    = {{The Routledge Handbook of Second Language Acquisition, Morphosyntax, and Semantics}},
  editor       = {{Ionin, Tania and Montrul, Silvina and Slabakova, Roumyana}},
  isbn         = {{9781032535005}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{37--46}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  title        = {{Thinking for speaking}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003412373-5}},
  doi          = {{10.4324/9781003412373-5}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}