This book is the first to explore the development of sociolinguistic competence among adult second language (L2) learners in Austria, considering both productive and interpretive skills. Combining results from a cross-sectional and longitudinal micro-development study, this book focuses on issues of inter- and intra-individual variation and explores (a) why L2 learners acquire sociolinguistic competence, (b) which aspects of it they acquire, (c) which factors influence it and (d) when they acquire it, as well as how individuals measure up to group averages and the temporal dynamics involved in the development of sociolinguistic competence. The work is notable for its interdisciplinary nature, connecting topics rarely found in the same empirical piece, such as the roles of cognitive and psycholinguistic factors, the intra-individual longitudinal design, and the analysis of group and individual data. In addition, it offers new and valuable insights into issues of language acquisition, including group-to-individual generalisability, the benefits of mixed-methods approaches and the complex, late-acquired nature of many of the components of sociolinguistic competence.

Enhances our theoretical and empirical knowledge on acquiring sociolinguistic competence in bi-dialectal communities

About the Author

Mason A. Wirtz is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. His principal research areas include variationist SLA, socio- and psycholinguistics, especially as concerns quantitative approaches, statistical methods and novel approaches to data collection.

Reviews
This is a deeply insightful study of when, how and why learners acquire sociolinguistic variation of German. Mason Wirtz pushes the boundaries of existing knowledge on the development of sociolinguistic competence by employing innovative new methods and test batteries rarely applied in Variationist SLA. This book provides a rich research agenda that will impact how we think about and study L2 sociolinguistic development for years to come. * Erik Schleef, University of Salzburg, Austria *
In his novel investigation of sociolinguistic competence, Wirtz highlights the roles of cognitive and psycholinguistic factors, provides a compelling intra-individual longitudinal design, and carefully analyzes both group and individual data. This innovative and rigorous mixed-methods resource is sure to be required reading for scholars of SLA! * Matthew Kanwit, University of Pittsburgh, USA *



Book Information
ISBN 9781836680055
Author Mason A. Wirtz
Format Hardback
Page Count 216
Imprint Multilingual Matters
Publisher Channel View Publications Ltd