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Inner Speech - L2

Thinking Words in a Second Language

  • Book
  • © 2005

Overview

Authors:
  1. María C.M. Guerrero

    1. Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, USA

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  • Only book devoted wholly to the topic of "inner speech in the second language." It facilitates the work of researchers who are interested in the inner speech-L2 connection inasmuch as it gathers, updates, and examines all the existing references on the topic
  • Valuable for those interested in incorporating sociocultural theory readings and the methodology of research in the field within their courses

Part of the book series: Educational Linguistics (EDUL, volume 6)

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
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  2. Understanding Inner Speech

    Pages 1-26

  3. Thinking Words in One's First Language

    Pages 27-58

  4. Thinking Words in a Second Language

    Pages 59-88

  5. Methodology of Research on Inner Speech

    Pages 89-118

  6. L2 Inner Speech: What Learners Say

    Pages 119-152

  7. An Integrated View of the Origin, Nature, and Development of L2 Inner Speech

    Pages 153-189

  8. Developing L2 Inner Speech: A Pedagogical Perspective

    Pages 191-211

  9. Synthesis and Directions for Further Research

    Pages 213-219

  10. Back Matter

    Pages 221-252
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Keywords

About this book

According to Vygotsky (1986), The decreasing vocalization of egocentric speech denotes a developing abstraction from sound, the child's new faculty to "think words" instead of pronouncing them. This is the positive meaning of the sinking coefficient of egocentric speech. The downward curve indicates development toward inner speech, (p. 230) The purpose of this volume is to explore the faculty to "think words," not as the ability to mentally evoke words in the native (or first) language (LI) but as the faculty 1 to conjure up in the mind words in a second language (L2). To think words rather than to pronounce them is possible through inner speech, a function that humans develop in the course of childhood as they internalize the speech of the social group among which they grow. This means internalizing and being able to conduct inner speech in a particular linguistic code, the LI. But humans, at a very early or more mature age, may also come into contact and interact verbally with speakers of other languages, in classrooms or natural settings. The possibility thus emerges of internalizing an L2 in such a way that inner speech in the L2 might evolve. In this book, it is argued that, given certain conditions of L2 learning, it is possible for learners to attain inner speech in the L2. This book examines the distinctive nature of L2 inner speech and the processes that engender it and characterize its development.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"Inner Speech-L2 is a comprehensive, well-written, and in-depth treatment of the complex topic of inner speech and its relevance for the filed of second language acquisition (SLA) … . De Guerrero has provided the field with a solid and rich monograph on inner speech. Any researcher interested in the issue of thinking in an L2 and the complexities of the topic of language for thought and language of thought should read it." (Eduardo Negueruela, Modern Language Journal, Vol. 91 (4), 2007)

"The book pinpoints the features of second language (L2) inner speech and analyses the processes which trigger its development. … The book is addressed to scholars with a specific interest in sociocultural theory application, to researchers, educators, and students in the fields of L2 and Foreign Language (FL) learning, applied linguistics, language and cognition, and psycholinguistics. It might also be a useful resource book for those interested in gaining an understanding of the role played by inner speech in mediating language and thought." (Anna Franca Plastina, The Linguist List, February, 2008)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, USA

    María C.M. Guerrero

About the author

María C. M. de Guerrero has vast experience as a professional in the field of second language teaching and learning. She has taught EFL/ESL for over thirty years in Argentina and Puerto Rico and offers courses in psycholinguistics and research methods at the graduate level. She works at the English Department of Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus. She has published articles in The Modern Language Journal, Applied Linguistics, Language Teaching Research, TESOL Quarterly, Issues in Applied Linguistics, the International Journal of Applied Linguistics, the Journal of Second Language Writing, Foreign Language Annals, and in the edited volumes Vygotskyan Approaches to Second Language Research (Ablex) and Applied Linguistics and Language Teacher Education (Springer).

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Inner Speech - L2

  • Book Subtitle: Thinking Words in a Second Language

  • Authors: María C.M. Guerrero

  • Series Title: Educational Linguistics

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/b106255

  • Publisher: Springer New York, NY

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, Education (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag US 2005

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-387-24577-5Published: 20 April 2005

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4419-3754-4Published: 08 December 2010

  • eBook ISBN: 978-0-387-24578-2Published: 30 March 2006

  • Series ISSN: 1572-0292

  • Series E-ISSN: 2215-1656

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVIII, 252

  • Topics: Language Education

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