The Grammar of Self in Second and Other Language Learning University of Victoria, Canada.
- As societies in many parts of this planet become more intricately linked, individuals who engage in communicative interactions between these societies may become more aware of their process of human development, particularly the development of an intercultural "self". This intercultural self may be seen as an unfolding individual or an intercultural "personhood". This basically describes a person who seeks to bridge the gaps between cultures, and whose "cognitive, affective, and behavioral characteristics are not limited, but are open to growth beyond the psychological parameters of his or her own culture" (Kim, 1994, p. 415). This intercultural self, or intercultural "personhood" may be subjected to an accelerated process of development through involvement in second language, or other language learning. Intercultural rules concerning what is preferred and what is to be avoided in a new language and in a new cultural context, create novel and challenging patterns of linguistic and social rules for the engaged, intercultural, communicative "self". Through "grammars" or "rules", we as unique individuals evaluate the situation and our self, according to demand, need for conformity, and principles of certain contexts. Therefore, as we develop new perceptions of ourselves in intercultural contexts, we each develop new rules or a new "grammar of self", which may assist us in adapting to the principles at hand, in order that we may feel included and appropriate in each current context.
- A second language learner, while working between the first and second languages, along with first and second cultures, may work within an "interlanguage" system (Brown, 1994). This refers to a separateness of a second language learner's system which has an intermediate status that functions between the native and target languages. In this place, the learners form their own unique linguistic systems that assist with providing order and structure to what is occurring in the present context. The grammar of self, or the rules for the social and linguistic self, are therefore transforming as this interlanguage system develops. This may be seen as an "inter-grammar of self" which strives to maintain a balance between the grammar of self of the native language and culture, and the grammar of self of the target language and culture. Various levels and stages of development may transpire within this dynamic of the unfolding interlanguage or inter-grammar of self. These stages may involve the making of linguistic and social choices, which may evolve from large amounts of mistakes or errors and small amounts of communicative successes, to large amounts of successes and social and linguistic competencies, with small amounts of mistakes and errors.
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Last Updated 2 Feb, 1997