A HOLISTIC MODEL OF SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION THEORY

Abstract

. SLA is a broad multilateral realm of theoretical and applied projections. The discipline being topical for the world community, its coterminous issues are rather summarily thrown together, but actually spread out or split up of the field originally meant as a more concentrated and closely knit nucleus. The research mainstream branches out into numerous aspects of language acquisition, most of which are ‘cross-sectional’. The heterology of research approaches hinders the progress towards the development of a well-balanced unified SLA theory relied on the basics inherent in science at large. Although the idea sounds like a utopian goal so far, a number of steps could be taken for SLA integrity to get closer and ultimately to transpire. A holistic theoretical model of SLA requires that its modules be represented on the basis of the same property, or radix. In the model developed, the radix is identified as a minimal predicative unit formed. The unit takes shape in the process of predication which can be referred to as the act of joining initially independent objects of thought expressed by self-determining words - predicate and argument - in order to convey any idea. Predication is a most important function of language cognition due to which the real and individualized worlds converge in the learner’s mind. Hence predication is not just a common fundamental of language, social intercourse and individual inner thought activity but actually a medium creating the environment in which all three spheres mentioned function cohesively. The SLA Universal Invariant-Based Binary Predication Theory is identified in terms of its domain, content and procedural phenomena, principles, rules and regularities, binary opposition logic and idealized object. The latter can be represented as a complex intellectual whole since the aggregate of the three values determines a vision of a higher order independent of the particular learning conditions. The interdependence of three values (language, communication, verbal thought) transpires in accordance with the duality (binary) principle which manifests itself in that each value is a permanent symmetrical counterpart of SLA basic concepts and statements.