Amongst varieties of theories in the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) there is a dearth of research on the interrelationship and coexistence of different ratios and variables among linguistic, cognitive, social or emotional forces in second language (L2) developmental processes. To bridge this gap, this paper adapts a Vygotskian interpretation of dialectics to demonstrate a dialectical unity among these conflicting forces. Thus, departing from any political connotations that dialectics are usually associated with or disputes over Vygotsky's tendency to disparity and contradictions, the present paper mainly aims to throw light on the possibility of viewing L2 developmental processes through the prism of this alternative dialectical perspective. To that end, the paper does not seek to equate Vygotsky, dialectics and SLA but rather to pose new questions from a dialectical perspective with the aim of stimulating further research on this matter. The study adopts a traditional literature review approach by selecting a few empirical and theoretical studies that seem to bear on the dialectical thought process without necessarily explicitly referring to it. The analysis suggests that such variables as cognition, affect and sociocultural factors may indeed co-exist to a greater or lesser extent in an ongoing dialectical development. Contribution/ Originality: The paper is the first study to investigate the concept of dialectical unity as applied to second language developmental processes. It proposes that the different degrees of ratios of these variables to each other and their interactive and interwoven reactions have the potential to influence SLA in diverse ways.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.