Second Dialect Acquisition

by Jeff Siegel

What is involved in acquiring a new dialect - for example, when Canadian English speakers move to Australia or African American English-speaking children go to school? How is such learning different from second language acquisition (SLA), and why is it in some ways more difficult? These are some of the questions Jeff Siegel examines in this book, the first to focus specifically on second dialect acquisition (SDA). Siegel surveys a wide range of studies that throw light on SDA. These concern dialects of English as well as those of other languages, including Dutch, German, Greek, Norwegian, Portuguese and Spanish. He also describes the individual and linguistic factors that affect SDA, such as age, social identity and language complexity. The book discusses problems faced by students who have to acquire the standard dialect without any special teaching, and presents some educational approaches that have been successful in promoting SDA in the classroom.

Genres: Linguistics

290 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2010

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Dialect Acquisition by Jeff Siegel is a foundational and thought-provoking work in the field of linguistics. As one of the first books to focus specifically on second dialect acquisition (SDA), it fills an important gap in language research by examining how individuals acquire a new dialect and how this process differs from second language acquisition (SLA).

Siegel draws from a wide range of studies across multiple languages including English, Dutch, German, Greek, Norwegian, Portuguese, and Spanish offering a comprehensive and comparative perspective. The book carefully explores the linguistic, social, and psychological factors that influence SDA, such as age, identity, and language complexity. Particularly valuable is the discussion of students who must adapt to a standard dialect in educational settings without formal instruction, along with evidence based classroom approaches that have proven effective.

Clear, scholarly, and deeply researched, Second Dialect Acquisition is an essential resource for linguists, educators, sociolinguists, and policymakers interested in language development, identity, and education

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I can start on Section 2.4 tomorrow. Easy read, with appeal to linguists and teachers (check, check). I saw a lot of my references cited in this book, so I guess I'm doing something right.