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Second Language Acquisition & Information Processing

This document summarizes the information processing theory of second language acquisition. It explains that information processing focuses on the cognitive processes involved in learning a second language. The theory views language learning as hierarchical skills acquired in three stages - input, central processing, and output. Input involves perceiving the language through senses. Central processing analyzes and stores the input, either in short-term or long-term memory. The stored information can then be produced as output. The document also discusses how attention acts as a filter in determining what input becomes intake for further processing.

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33 views1 page

Second Language Acquisition & Information Processing

This document summarizes the information processing theory of second language acquisition. It explains that information processing focuses on the cognitive processes involved in learning a second language. The theory views language learning as hierarchical skills acquired in three stages - input, central processing, and output. Input involves perceiving the language through senses. Central processing analyzes and stores the input, either in short-term or long-term memory. The stored information can then be produced as output. The document also discusses how attention acts as a filter in determining what input becomes intake for further processing.

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bautistaeliah2
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11/3/22, 2:24 PM Second Language Acquisition & Information Processing: [Essay Example], 896 words GradesFixer

Second Language Acquisition & Information Processing

Information processing (IP) is a theoretical framework that focuses on cognitive process


involved in second language acquisition (https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/a-
study-of-noam-chomsky-language-acquisition-argument/) (SLA). IP came into
existences when behaviorist view of learning language failed to address the cognitive
process involved in SLA. Although IP emphasis on learning (SLA) to be an internal
process just like nativist theory, it sees learning language to be no different from
learning any other forms of skills. Nativist, on other hand, posits certain aspects of
learning language to be innate; that is every child has access to language acquisition
device (LAD)-Universal Grammar (UG). Based on the aforementioned assumption IP
views language as hierarchical sets of skills, ranging from lower-level skills to higher-level
skills. Acquisitions of higher skills are impossible without first acquiring lower sets of
skills (Saville-Troike & Barto, 2017).

According to IP such skills are learned in 3 stages: input (perception), central processing
and, output (production). IP beings with sensory perception of information (input). Input
as Troika and Barto (2005) states is any representative sample of target language that
the learners come across with. Krashen (1985) stated that language is acquired from the
comprehensive input that is slightly higher than the current competency (i +1). However,
it is of paramount importance to qualify that not all input becomes intake. For input to
become intake, it will depend on the attentional demand of input.

Cherry (1953) stated in her well known Cocktail party effect that despite seeing and
hearing so much of information on daily basis, people will only select necessary
information and discard the remaining. True to her words, attention acts like a filter only
letting in information (input) that has the highest attentional demand. Such selective
function also helps to prevent information overload from happening.Once input
becomes intake, the information goes through central processing. It is comprised of
controlled processing (short-term memory/STM) and automatic processing (long-term
memory/LTM). Humans cannot process everything simultaneously as we, by nature, are
limited processor; therefore, controlled processing is limited in number as it exerts
higher demand on cognitive skills (Saville-Troike & Barto, 2017).

If a learner hears any idiosyncratic sentence in TG, it will be analyzed semantically- trying
to make sense out of it. Processed data then move to automatic processing where they
are stored for future retrieval. Stored data are said to be automatized, in another words
they become schema or schemata. Schema in layman’s term can be understood as

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