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Advancedness in Second Language Spanish: Definitions, challenges, and possibilities
Edited by Mandy R. Menke and Paul A. Malovrh
[Issues in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics 31] 2021
► pp. 323–348

Chapter 14
Developing advanced pragmatic competence in Spanish

| Indiana University
| Indiana University

This chapter provides an overview of the fundamental concepts in second language (L2) pragmatics, offering detailed descriptions of the challenges associated with the acquisition of pragmatics in advanced Spanish learners. It provides a discussion of speech acts and the comprehension of indirect meaning, focusing on the difficulties a learner might have in attaining pragmatic competence. The chapter also discusses the acquisition of pragmatics in study abroad and heritage-language learning contexts and provides an overview of instructional pragmatics and how instruction affects advanced learners in the classroom and during study abroad. Lastly, the chapter discusses methodological issues associated with L2 pragmatics research, emphasizing the difficulties in operationalizing proficiency across studies. The chapter ends with future directions for research on advanced-level pragmatics.

Keywords: advanced L2 Spanish, pragmatics, indirect meaning, speech acts
Article outline
  • Fundamental concepts in L2 pragmatics
    • Pragmatics and pragmatic competence
    • Pragmalinguistic and sociopragmatic distinction
    • Pragmatic transfer
  • Speech acts and understanding of indirect meaning
    • Speech acts
    • L2 implicature
  • Context of learning and pragmatic competence
    • Study abroad context: Learning the pragmatics of the target culture
    • Heritage language learners
    • Instruction of pragmatics
    • Research on the instruction of pragmatics in L2 Spanish
  • Methodological issues
  • Conclusion and future directions
  • References
Published online: 8 February 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ihll.31.14fel
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