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Part of
Complexity Theory and Language Development: In celebration of Diane Larsen-Freeman
Edited by Lourdes Ortega and ZhaoHong Han
[Language Learning & Language Teaching 48] 2017
► pp. 51–58

Chapter 2
Complexity Theory and Dynamic Systems Theory

Same or different?

| University of Groningen

In this contribution, the history and use of the two labels Complexity Theory (CT) and Dynamic Systems Theory (DST) are presented. Although they have a different ontology, there does not seem to be a reason for choosing one or the other to refer to the same phenomenon. I propose to use the label Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) as the general label to refer to the systems studied.

Article outline
  • DST and CT in historical perspective
  • DST and CT in the literature
  • Methodological issues
  • Quantitative modeling, qualitative modeling and dynamical descriptions
  • New terms and their impact
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 1 November 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lllt.48.03deb
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