Temporality in L2 Spanish: an investigation of the expression of temporality in the narrative discourse of Spanish L2 learners

摘要

The general objective o f this research study is the investigation of the development of the expression of temporality in Second Language Acquisition. In particular, this study examines the acquisition process by native English speakers who are second languages learners of Spanish Temporality is examined as it is manifested in the oral narration of events by these learners. The theoretical argument behind the research is based on linguistic relativity and “thinking for speaking” theories which consider how different languages deal with the linguistic coding of certain concepts, such as time and space, and the influence of linguistic forms on speakers’ perceptions and cognitive development of these concepts. The present study aims to answer the following question.ududIf the language they speak influences the manner in which speakers conceptualise temporal relations, will learners of a second language adopt the cognitive strategies and styles of the native speakers to refer to events in time, as their Interlanguage develops to approximate the target language? Specifically, will second language learners of Spanish adopt the patterns of temporal expression m narrative discourse, typical of Spanish native speakers? To answer this question standard qualitative and quantitative methods of research used in applied linguistics are utilized.