Saturday, February 27, 2010

Metacognitive language proficiency

For a while, I thought that language proficiency is about whether the processing is automatic or controlled. Native language processing tends to be more automatic, and nonnative language processing tends to start with conscious processing, and as one gets better, the performance becomes more automatic.

In my case, I know that my Korean is largely automatic and I know that my English still has some conscious tendencies.

However, depending on the situation, even native speakers have to make conscious effort in their language activities for better performance. Writing a dissertation, giving a speech, debating, persuading a potential client, etc., etc. The higher the level of processing, the more attentional resources are required for better delivery.

So is this like a U-shaped function? You start out with conscious processing, then it becomes automatic, then you get to do higher-level conscious processing?

Perhaps you could consider the higher level, deliberate processing of language as part of metacognition and differentiate it from the awkward second language performance. Yeah, both require conscious effort, but one is above the mundane requirements of making the utterances appear to be correct (grammar, accent, use of vocab, etc.) , while the other focuses on mostly that.


Will need to look more into metacognition and language to see if this is a viable point.