Second Language Writing Systems

Vivian Cook, Benedetta Bassetti

Multilingual Matters, Jan 1, 2005 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 448 pages

Second Language Writing Systems looks at how people learn and use a second language writing system, arguing that they are affected by characteristics of the first and second writing systems, to a certain extent independently of the languages involved. This book for the first time presents the effects of writing systems on second language reading and writing and on second language awareness, and provides a new platform for discussing bilingualism, biliteracy and writing systems.

What people are saying

User Review -

Very helpful for those who are analyzing reading and writing processes of non-native speakers of English. It gives an overview to justify the difficulties ESL learners have by comparing the language families/origins between English and those of the ESL learners. Part 3 lays out some justification and implication for remedial classes and intervention especially in the phonological processes. 

User Review -

This is the first book to treat the acquisition and use of a second language writing system. Drawing from a variety of disciplines and writing systems, it investigates how people read, write and analyse a writing system that represents a second language.

Contents

• An Introduction to Researching Second Language Writing Systems: 1
• Writing a Second Language Writing System: 69
• L2 Japanese Kanji Memory and Retrieval An Experiment on the Tipofthepen TOP Phenomenon: 71
• The Role of the Phonological Strategy in Learning to Spell in English as a Second Language: 97
• Orthographic Knowledge and First Language Reading Evidence from Single Word Dictation from Chinese and Malaysian Users of English as a Forei...: 122
• Learner Corpora and Handwriting: 147
• A Corpusbased Study of Spelling Errors of Japanese EFL Writers with Reference to Errors Occurring in Wordinitial and Wordfinal Positions: 164
• Spelling and Pronunciation in Migrant Children The Case of ItalianSwiss German Bilinguals: 184
• Reading a Second Language Writing System: 213
• Are the L1 and 12 Word Reading Processes Affected More by Writing System or Instruction?: 215
• Effects of Second Language Reading Proficiency and First Language Orthography on Second Language Word Recognition: 238
• Bilingual Interactive Activation Models of Word Recognition in a Second Language: 260
• The Effect of L1 Reading Processes on L2 A Crosslinguistic Comparison of Italian and Japanese Users of English: 289
• Awareness of Language and Second Language Writing Systems: 309
• Learning to Read Across Writing Systems Transfer Metalinguistic Awareness and Secondlanguage Reading Development: 311
• Effects of Writing Systems on Second Language Awareness Word Awareness in English Learners of Chinese as a Foreign Language: 335
• Phonological Awareness and Spelling Skill Development in Bilingual Biscriptal Children: 357
• Teaching a Second Language Writing System: 373
• Different and Differing Views on Conceptualising Writing System Research and Education: 375
• Second Language Writing Systems Minority Languages and Reluctant Readers: 398
• Written Language and Foreign Language Teaching: 424
• Index: 443

About the author

Vivian Cook is Professor in Applied Linguistics at the University of Newcastle, previously having taught in London and Essex. After writing EFL course-books, he concentrated on linguistics and language learning in books such as Chomsky's Universal Grammar and Second Language Learning and Language Teaching, and developed the concept of multi-competence through books such as Portraits of the L2 User. He was founding President of the European Second Language Association (EUROSLA) . He has been exploring the English writing system through articles and books such as The English Writing System and Accomodating Brocolli in the Cemetary.

Benedetta Bassetti holds a PhD from the University of Essex, where she wrote her thesis on Chinese as a Second Language Writing System. She previously has studied oriental languages and applied linguistics in Rome and London. She has presented her research at various international conferences.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Second Language Writing Systems; Second Language Writing Systems; Volume 11 of Second language acquisition
• Editors: Vivian Cook, Benedetta Bassetti
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Multilingual Matters, 2005
• ISBN: 1853597937, 9781853597930
• Length: 448 pages
• Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Communication Studies; Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / General; Language Arts & Disciplines / Study & Teaching