Mike Sharwood Smith
Encyclopedia
Michael Sharwood Smith (born 1942) is a researcher into the acquisition of non-native languages. He is a founding editor of Second Language Research
, successor to the Interlanguage Studies Bulletin.
Together with John Truscott of National Tsing Hua University
, Taiwan he has developed a new theoretical platform for studying language development and language use called the MOGUL Framework
(Modular Growth and Use of Language) which explains language development as a by-product
of processing albeit constrained by the modular architecture of the mind. His research interests have included theoretical issues concerning the way in which second languages are represented in the mind and how they interact, language attrition
, the role of consciousness in language learning and the design of pedagogical grammars. He has introduced various concepts and associated terms into the field of second language acquisition
research, notably "grammatical consciousness-raising" (Sharwood Smith 1981), "crosslinguistic influence
" (Sharwood Smith 1983) and "input enhancement
" (Sharwood Smith 1991), the last-mentioned idea focusing on the supposed learning effect of systematically making salient for learners certain specific linguistic features that are present in the language to which they are exposed. Together with James Pankhurst, he ran the annual LARS (Language Acquisition Research Symposia) meetings in Utrecht between 1983 and 1998, bringing together researchers in first and second language acquisition
and also theoretical linguistics
. Speakers at the LARS meetings have included leading figures such as Melissa Bowerman
, Ray Jackendoff
, Annette Karmiloff-Smith
, Mary-Louise Kean, Brian MacWhinney
, Frederick Newmeyer
, Steven Pinker
and Deirdre Wilson as well as many prominent researchers in second language acquisition.
Second Language Research
Second Language Research is a peer-reviewed academic journal in the field of linguistics, concerned foremost with second language acquisition. It was established in 1985 and is published quarterly by SAGE Publications...
, successor to the Interlanguage Studies Bulletin.
Together with John Truscott of National Tsing Hua University
National Tsing Hua University
National Tsing Hua University is one of the most prestigious universities in Taiwan. The university has a strong reputation in the studies of science and engineering. Times Higher Education - World University Rankings is107in the world. Engineering and Science are the best in Taiwan...
, Taiwan he has developed a new theoretical platform for studying language development and language use called the MOGUL Framework
MOGUL framework
The MOGUL framework is a research framework aiming to provide a theoretical perspective on the nature of language. MOGUL draws on the common ground underlying various related areas of cognitive science including psycholinguistics, theoretical linguistics, first- and second-language acquisition,...
(Modular Growth and Use of Language) which explains language development as a by-product
By-product
A by-product is a secondary product derived from a manufacturing process or chemical reaction. It is not the primary product or service being produced.A by-product can be useful and marketable or it can be considered waste....
of processing albeit constrained by the modular architecture of the mind. His research interests have included theoretical issues concerning the way in which second languages are represented in the mind and how they interact, language attrition
Language attrition
Language attrition is the loss of a first or second language or a portion of that language by individuals. Speakers who routinely use more than one language may not use either of their languages in ways which are exactly like that of a monolingual speaker...
, the role of consciousness in language learning and the design of pedagogical grammars. He has introduced various concepts and associated terms into the field of second language acquisition
Second language acquisition
Second-language acquisition or second-language learning is the process by which people learn a second language. Second-language acquisition is also the name of the scientific discipline devoted to studying that process...
research, notably "grammatical consciousness-raising" (Sharwood Smith 1981), "crosslinguistic influence
Crosslinguistic influence
Crosslinguistic influence is a generic term for different ways in which different language systems in the mind interact and affect either the linguistic performance or the linguistic development of the individual concerned...
" (Sharwood Smith 1983) and "input enhancement
Input enhancement
Input enhancement is a concept in second language acquisition, coined by Mike Sharwood Smith, that is commonly used to signal methods that an instructor uses to make selected features of a second language more salient for learners in such a way as to facilitate acquisition...
" (Sharwood Smith 1991), the last-mentioned idea focusing on the supposed learning effect of systematically making salient for learners certain specific linguistic features that are present in the language to which they are exposed. Together with James Pankhurst, he ran the annual LARS (Language Acquisition Research Symposia) meetings in Utrecht between 1983 and 1998, bringing together researchers in first and second language acquisition
Second language acquisition
Second-language acquisition or second-language learning is the process by which people learn a second language. Second-language acquisition is also the name of the scientific discipline devoted to studying that process...
and also theoretical linguistics
Theoretical linguistics
Theoretical linguistics is the branch of linguistics that is most concerned with developing models of linguistic knowledge. The fields that are generally considered the core of theoretical linguistics are syntax, phonology, morphology, and semantics...
. Speakers at the LARS meetings have included leading figures such as Melissa Bowerman
Melissa Bowerman
Melissa Bowerman was a leading researcher in the area of language acquisition. She was a Senior Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics....
, Ray Jackendoff
Ray Jackendoff
Ray Jackendoff is an American linguist. He is professor of philosophy, Seth Merrin Chair in the Humanities and, with Daniel Dennett, Co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University...
, Annette Karmiloff-Smith
Annette Karmiloff-Smith
Annette Karmiloff-Smith is a professorial research fellow at the Developmental Neurocognition Lab at Birkbeck, University of London. Before moving to Birbeck, she was Head of the Neurocognitive Development Unit at Institute of Child Health, University College, London...
, Mary-Louise Kean, Brian MacWhinney
Brian MacWhinney
Brian James MacWhinney is a Professor of Psychology and Modern Languages at Carnegie Mellon University. He specializes in first and second language acquisition, psycholinguistics, and the neurological bases of language, and he has written and edited several books and over 100 peer-reviewed...
, Frederick Newmeyer
Frederick Newmeyer
Frederick J. Newmeyer is Professor Emeritus of Linguistics at the University of Washington and adjunct professor in the University of British Columbia Department of Linguistics and the Simon Fraser University Department of Linguistics...
, Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker
Steven Arthur Pinker is a Canadian-American experimental psychologist, cognitive scientist, linguist and popular science author...
and Deirdre Wilson as well as many prominent researchers in second language acquisition.