Language socialization: Themes and advances in research

Abstract

This paper reviews the work by researchers employing a language socialization (LS) perspective in attempts to bring social factors into SLA theory. Second language socialization research conceptualizes second language learners as novices being socialized into not only a target language but also a target culture. The paper overviews the theoretical underpinnings of LS and then presents some of the overlapping themes that unite research in the first and second language fields. Recent advances in LS research in the second language field are considered and finally some concluding comments regarding the value of SLS and directions for future research are made.