The gifted language learner : a case of nature or nurture? / Alene Moyer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Moyer, Alene, 1961- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Second language acquisition.

Language and languages--Study and teaching.

Language and languages.

Gifted persons--Education.

Gifted persons.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (vii, 198 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2021.

Summary:

Language learners beyond early childhood are scarcely expected to reach native-like abilities in their new language, yet some do. Are these individuals uniquely gifted? If so, are such gifts innate, or the result of intense drive, optimal experience, opportunity, or something else altogether? Bringing together theory and empirical work from across disciplines, this ground-breaking book aims to better understand the perennial mystery of giftedness in language learning (GLL). Incorporating quantitative, qualitative, and case study data, this analysis demonstrates the need to reach across cognitive, neural, emotional, psychological, and social lines to understand native-likeness in a second language. All such 'outliers' face limits, potentials, and choices. What they do in the face of these is key. With this complexity in mind, specific recommendations are provided to re-orient the research toward an appreciation of the individual's role, and a clearer understanding of the inherent balance of nature and nurture in GLL.

Contents:

Cover

Half-title page

Title page

Copyright page

Contents

List of Tables

Introduction

1 Giftedness, Then and Now

1.1 Conceptualizing Giftedness

1.2 Theorizing Giftedness and Genius

1.2.1 Giftedness as Genetic Endowment

1.2.2 Giftedness as Intelligence

1.2.3 Giftedness as Expertise

1.2.4 Giftedness as Developmental

1.2.5 Giftedness as Creativity

1.2.6 Giftedness as Temperament and Personality

1.3 Conclusions

1.3.1 Empirical Challenges

1.3.2 Conceptual Challenges

1.3.3 Broader Social Implications

2 The Gifted Language Learner

2.1 The Good Language Learner in SLA

2.2 The Near-native or Native-like Second-Language Learner

2.3 Linguistic Evidence of High L2 Attainment

2.3.1 Phonology

2.3.2 Morphosyntax

2.3.3 Lexicon

2.3.4 Pragmatic and Discursive Fluency

2.4 Profiles of Native-like L2 Users

2.5 Summary of Commonalities

2.5.1 Cognitive Factors

2.5.2 Psychological Factors

2.5.3 Experiential Factors

2.6 Possible Indicators of Exceptionality

2.6.1 Aptitude and Talent

2.6.2 Learning Style and Strategies

2.6.3 Psychological Orientation

2.6.4 Experience and L2 Engagement

2.7 Conclusions

3 Personality Dimensions in GLL

3.1 Personality Concepts and Constructs

3.2 Critiques and Alternative Theories

3.3 Personality and Language Learning Success

3.3.1 Openness and Related Constructs

3.3.2 Conscientiousness

3.3.3 Extraversion and Introversion

3.3.4 Empathy

3.4 Recent Advances in Personality Measures

3.5 Conclusions

4 Neurological and Cognitive Foundations of GLL

4.1 Aptitude

4.2 Neural Structure, Function, and Flexibility

4.3 Cognitive Mechanisms

4.3.1 Working Memory

4.3.2 Sound Processing, Musical Ability, and Mimicry

4.3.3 Strategies and Self-Regulation.

4.4 Conclusions: The Nature and Nurture of L2 Talent

4.4.1 Neurological Takeaways

4.4.2 Cognitive Dynamics

5 Emotion, Cognition, and Engagement in GLL

5.1 The Emotion-Cognition Interface

5.2 Emotion, Appraisal, and Action

5.3 Emotion Regulation

5.4 Motivation, Mindset, and Perseverance

5.5 Imagination and the L2 Self-Concept

5.6 Conclusions on Thought, Emotion, and Action in GLL

5.6.1 Limitations and Empirical Challenges

5.6.2 New Perspectives on Cognition

5.6.3 Final Remarks on Cognition, Emotion, and Engagement

6 Paths Forward in Theory and Research

6.1 GLL and the Nature-Nurture Tug of War

6.2 Future Research Directions

6.2.1 Aptitude in a New Light

6.2.2 Personality Matters

6.2.3 Experience, Engagement, and Language Dominance

6.2.4 Methodological Recommendations

6.3 The Gifted Language Learner - Redux

References

Index.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 11 Jun 2021).

ISBN:

1-108-60147-2

1-108-75403-1

1-108-69740-2

OCLC:

1295274948