Introduction: Advances in the Study of Third Language Acquisition and Multilingualism

Abstract

Research on third language acquisition (TLA) has come a long way since the first International Conference on Third Language Acquisition and Multilingualism was held in 1999 at the University of Innsbruck (Austria). Not only has it contributed significantly to the field of second language acquisition, but it has established itself as a field on its own. This volume furthers research on TLA by offering insights into international research on multilingual learning and use. Particular attention is put on new research concepts and the exploration of contact phenomena such as transfer and language learning strategies in diverse language contact scenarios. The concepts introduced in Part I (concepts of multilingualism research) build upon existing paradigms but at the same time move further in their conceptualisations and categorisations concerning multilingual learning and use (e.g. dominant language constellation and communicative competence). Different approaches are offered in Part II (transfer phenomena in multilingual learning and use) to investigate contact phenomena such as transfer in a range of third language learning contexts. Part III (language learning strategies) explores different perspectives of research on language learning strategies in multilingual learning ranging from individual cases to strategy modelling.