Conceptual Issues in Second Language Research in Africa.docVIP

Conceptual Issues in Second Language Research in Africa Olushola Bamidele Are (Lokoja, Nigeria) Abstract This paper is an overview of some of the complications associated with conceptualizing second language in African societies, particularly with reference to European languages. Most popular opinions and many scholarly insights appear to define second language mainly in terms of sequence of acquisition. From this perspective, the term second language refers to a language learnt in addition to a previously acquired one. While this view of second language actually applies to many African situations, there are complex bilingual and multilingual situations in Africa that pose serious conceptual problems when viewed from the standpoint of this dominant view. This paper raises the need for scholars to be conscious of these situations, and the variations in the conception of second language that consequently exist, so that divergent perspectives of second language can be better accommodated in the emerging global academic community. 1 Introduction This paper is meant to enhance conceptual accommodation among Applied Linguistics scholars in different countries with regard to the concept of Second Language (L2). In particular, it is targeted at scholars in countries whose second language (L2) scenarios are different from those of African societies. In a world in which contacts among researchers from different parts of the world are increasing rapidly, it is important for experts of the same field to understand the conceptual perspectives from where their peers in other societies are operating. In the case of the concepts of L2, such understanding is pertinent in view of the complications sometimes involved. Yet, scholars usually discuss issues relating to L2 without any effort to clarify their perspectives on the concepts. It appears as if some scholars w