Second Language Acquisition and Second ... - Stephen Krashen

while English "orients its users to separation or abstraction from the perceptual
field" (p. 2). In this case, it is quite possible that the subjects were past the right
hemisphere stage in their acquisition of English, and other factors, such as the one
suggested by Rogers et al., influenced the results.
Finally, if the stage hypothesis is supported by subsequent studies, we must
determine what the right hemisphere contributes to language acquisition. According
to recent research (Zaidel, 1973; Curtiss, 1977) even the mature right hemisphere
has a surprisingly rich comprehension lexicon and an understanding of basic
semantic relationships. Its linguistic inferiority may be primarily in syntax. Does the
right hemisphere bring these lexical and semantic abilities into play during early
stages of language acquisition, with the left hemisphere fully taking over only when
more advanced syntax is acquired, and/or are other "appositional" abilities used?
Conclusions
The current scene in neurolinguistics is somewhat unsettled, but recent years have
seen a number of exciting discoveries and rapid progress. Some crucial issues have
not been decided, but there are some conclusions we can conservatively draw:
1. While child-adult differences in second language acquisition potential
do exist, the evidence for a biological barrier to successful adult
acquisition is lacking. On the contrary, there is abundant reason to
maintain that adults are still able to "acquire" language naturally to a
great extent.
2. There is some evidence for right hemisphere participation in early
stages of first and second language acquisition, suggesting a further
L1-L2 parallel (L. Obler, personal communication).
These conclusions lead to no methodological breakthroughs, to no "neurolinguistic
method". They are, however, quite consistent with current approaches to second
language instruction, approaches developed by concerned teachers independent of
theory, that emphasize meaningful and communicative activities that take advantage
of the adults' ability to acquire language. 2
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