Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- List of Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Part ISituating the Discipline
- Part IIInternal Factors
- 5The Role of the Native Language
- 6The Role of Working Memory in SLA
- 7Age-Related Effects and Ultimate Achievement in SLA
- 8Language Processing
- 9Acquiring and Processing Two Languages in One Brain
- Part IIIExternal and Social Factors
- Part IVProfiles of Bilinguals
- Part VProperties of Interlanguage Systems
- Part VIModels of Development
- Index
9 - Acquiring and Processing Two Languages in One Brain
from Part II - Internal Factors
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 May 2026
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- List of Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Part ISituating the Discipline
- Part IIInternal Factors
- 5The Role of the Native Language
- 6The Role of Working Memory in SLA
- 7Age-Related Effects and Ultimate Achievement in SLA
- 8Language Processing
- 9Acquiring and Processing Two Languages in One Brain
- Part IIIExternal and Social Factors
- Part IVProfiles of Bilinguals
- Part VProperties of Interlanguage Systems
- Part VIModels of Development
- Index
Summary
In this chapter, we provide an overview of how second languages (L2s) are acquired, processed and represented in the brain. We begin by reviewing experimental methods, along with relevant studies employing them, with a particular focus on fMRI and EEG, two metabolic and electrophysiological measures that elucidate our knowledge of multiple languages in one brain. We then discuss a few moderating effects of L2 acquisition along with a dialogue of how multilinguals process structure and meaning as elaborated in key theories. Finally, we elaborate on how research on multiple memory systems can possibly shed light on the acquisition and teaching of L2s in the classroom with respect to the effectiveness of the explicit presentation of grammar rules and feedback. We conclude by identifying research topics that are shaping ongoing work in bilingual processing and sparking new dialogues that have the potential to significantly advance the field.
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- The Cambridge Handbook of Second Language Acquisition , pp. 205 - 232Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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