Préface

Les études qui sont incluses dans le présent numéro d’AILE, s’inscrivent dans un nouveau courant de recherche dont l’émergence remonte aux années quatre-vingt-dix et qui avait pour but d’examiner l’acquisition des règles variables de la langue cible par les apprenants des langues étrangères ou secondes (LE et L2). Il s’agissait d’une dimension de l’apprentissage des LE ou L2 qui était encore inexplorée en dépit du fait que dans de nombreux travaux (cf., entre autres, Tarone 1988 et Adamson 19..

État de la recherche sur l’appropriation de la variation par les apprenants avancés du FL2 ou FLE

Cet état de la recherche sur l’appropriation de la variation sociolinguistique par les apprenants avancés du français langue étrangère ou langue seconde est surtout concentré sur le milieu institutionnel. Avant de présenter l’état de cette recherche, nous discutons brièvement du concept de variation sociolinguistique et nous situons cette recherche dans le domaine des études sur l’appropriation des langues secondes. Nous décrivons également les objectifs et la méthodologie d’un projet de recherche sur le français parlé par des élèves en immersion de l’Ontario, projet qui constitue une bonne illustration de cette recherche.In this paper we present a synthetic overview of the findings of research on the learning sociolinguistic variation by advanced learners of French as a foreign or second language. Our paper is chiefly focused on advanced learners in an educational setting. Before we present our overview, we discuss the notion of linguistic variation and we place the above-mentioned research in the broader field of SLA studies. We briefly describe the goals and methodology of a research project on the spoken French of Immersion students in Ontario, which constitutes a good illustration of this line of research

The emotional weight of "I love you" in multilinguals' languages

The present paper considers the perceived emotional weight of the phrase I love you in multilinguals’ different languages. The sample consists of 1459 adult multilinguals speaking a total of 77 different first languages. They filled out an on-line questionnaire with open and closed questions linked to language behavior and emotions. Feedback on the open question related to perceived emotional weight of the phrase I love you in the multilinguals’ different languages was recoded in three categories: it being strongest in (1) the first language (L1), (2) the first language and a foreign language, and (3) a foreign language (LX). A majority of speakers felt I love you was strongest in their L1. Participants offered various explanations for their perception. Statistical analyses revealed that the perception of weight of the phrase I love you was associated with self-perceived language dominance, context of acquisition of the L2, age of onset of learning the L2, degree of socialization in the L2, nature of the network of interlocutors in the L2, and self-perceived oral proficiency in the L2

Retention or omission of the ne in advanced French interlanguage: The variable effect of extralinguistic factors

This article considers inter-individual variation in omission rates of the pre-verbal particle ne in 991 negations produced in conversations between 73 native an non-native speakers of French. It appears that both endogenous an exogenous extralinguistic factors are linked to omission rates of ne. Whereas age and gender were found to have little effect, the degree of extraversion of the speaker, the frequency of use of French and the native/non-native status of the speakers were correlated with omission rates. Among the exogenous factors it appeared that the composition of the dyad was linked to omission rates: non-native speakers interacting with native speakers omitted the ne more frequently than the non-native speakers in conversation with other non-native speakers. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed

New speakers: Challenges and opportunities for variationist sociolinguistics

While the field of variationist sociolinguistics has advanced rapidly since Labov (1966), it remains the case that a socially informed theory of language change continues to be influenced by only very few languages, typically English and a handful other dominant European languages. This article considers recent work on the emergence of new speakers in (severely) endangered or minority language communities, and what they might have to offer variationist theory. Although definitions can vary, it has become convention to describe new speakers as individuals ‘with little or no home or community exposure to a minority language but who instead acquire it through immersion or bilingual education programs, revitalization projects or as adult language learners’ (O'Rourke, Pujolar, & Ramallo, 2015: 1). There is now a wealth of literature available on new speakers in typologically dissimilar language contexts, though, so far, very little work has adopted the variationist paradigm. This article will argue that new speakers can figure prominently in variationist models of diffusion and change, taking the classic sociolinguistic factor of social networks as an example. The article ends by proposing a manifesto of potential research trajectories, based on current gaps in the literature

Self-reported frequency of swearing in English: do situational, psychological and sociobiographical variables have similar effects on first and foreign language users?

An analysis of data collected from 2347 users of English on their self-reported swearing behaviour in English revealed significant higher values for the 1159 native English (L1) users than for the 1165 English foreign language (LX) users. Parallel analyses on the data of the L1 and LX users revealed that the interlocutor effect was slightly stronger among L1 users. Swearing was reported to be most frequent in interactions with friends, when alone, followed by interactions with family members, colleagues and strangers. Participants scoring high on Psychoticism, Extraversion and Neuroticism reported significantly more swearing in English. Extraversion and Neuroticism had the strongest effects on LX users’ self-reported swearing with friends and alone while Psychoticism and Neuroticism had the strongest effects on L1 users’ self-reported swearing with strangers and with friends. The effects of sociobiographical variables (education level, age group, gender) were broadly similar among L1 and LX users but were significant in more categories of interlocutors for the L1 users. It is argued that the weaker effect of situational, psychological and sociobiographical variables on self-reported frequency of swearing among LX users of English could be linked to larger heterogeneity in their history of learning, socialisation, proficiency and use of English