THE ACQUISITION-LEARNING DISTINCTION
The acquisition-learning distinction is perhaps the most fundamental of all the
hypotheses to be presented here. It states that adults have two distinct and independent
ways of developing competence in a second language.
The first way is language acquisition, a process similar, if not identical to the way
children develop ability in their first language. Language acquisition is a subconscious
process; language acquirers are not usually aware of the fact that they are acquiring
language, but are only aware of the fact that they are using the language for
communication. The result of language acquisition, acquired competence, is also
subconscious. We are generally not consciously aware of the rules of the languages we
have acquired. Instead, we have a "feel" for correctness. Grammatical sentences
"sound" right, or "feel" right, and errors feel wrong, even if we do not consciously know
what rule was violated.
Other ways of describing acquisition include implicit learning, informal learning, and
natural learning. In non-technical language, acquisition is "picking-up" a language.
The second way to develop competence in a second language is by language learning.
We will use the term "learning" henceforth to refer to conscious knowledge of a second
language, knowing the rules, being aware of them, and being able to talk about them. In
non-technical terms, learning is "knowing about" a language, known to most people as
"grammar", or "rules". Some synonyms include formal knowledge of a language, or
explicit learning.
Some second language theorists have assumed that children acquire, while adults can
only learn. The acquisition-learning hypothesis claims, however, that adults also
acquire, that the ability to "pick-up" languages does not disappear at puberty. This does
not mean that adults will always be able to achieve native-like levels in a second
language. It does mean that adults can access the same natural "language acquisition
device" that children use. As we shall see later, acquisition is a very powerful process in
the adult.
