The Acquisition and Processing of Pragmatics in Multilinguals and Third Language Learners

Abstract

We review studies that investigated pragmatic acquisition and processing in multilingual children and adults, and third language (L3) learners. Studies on pragmatic differentiation in simultaneous multilingual children show that they can differentially and appropriately use their languages in a context-sensitive manner from the age of two. The evidence on implicature reveals that multilinguals exhibit interpretation skills comparable to monolinguals; and that degree of multilingualism, measured continuously, has a positive effect. Research that examined speech acts from the perspective of crosslinguistic influence has provided some evidence (though mixed and unclear) that the L1 can affect L2 and L3 speech act performance. This influence can also occur from the L3 to the L1 and L2 in young children. Moreover, work on speech acts has shown that bilinguals, and especially balanced bilinguals, enjoy an advantage in learning the pragmatics of an additional language. We close the chapter by suggesting directions for future work.