As mentioned at the beginning of the section, research on motivation and
related phenomena such as language anxiety and willingness to communicate
has been redefined in terms of CDST and this movement seems to have real
momentum, probably more than in any other area of AL research. It shows
that for paradigm shifts to happen, a strong commitment of leading
researchers is needed. It is obvious that without the constant involvement
and stimulation by Zoltán Dörnyei and Peter MacIntyre, the dynamic turn
had not been as complete for this area of research as it is now.
8.8 Concluding remarks
In this chapter arguments have been provided to show that the dynamic turn
can be seen as a paradigm shift in that some of the basic assumptions of the
current information processing approach to cognition are untenable from a
CDST perspective. This has to do with characteristics such as modularity,
static representations and the relevance of isolated linguistic units for our
understanding of what constitutes language as a tool for communication and
a part of the cognitive system. Taking away these fundamentals of the
information processing approach leads to far-reaching changes in theoretical
orientation and research methodology. The interconnectedness of sub-
systems calls for an integrative approach to empirical studies taking into
account as many factors as possible without getting some vague wholeness
that is impervious to empirical research.
A number of research topics that may be influenced by the CDST
approach have been presented, including an analysis of the basic tenets of
existing language processing models, the study of CS as an example of criti-
cality of systems, variation in language development and the study of indi-
vidual differences, in particular motivation. For all of these topics taking a
CDST perspective leads to a fundamental reassessment of the basics of
research. There are no doubt many other aspects of AL for which a CDST
approach might be relevant.
Notes
1 An earlier version of this section appeared in de Bot (2010).
2 This section is based on:
de Bot, K., Broersma, M. and Isurin, L. (2009)“Sources of triggering in code
switching” in: L. Isurin, D. Winford and K. de Bot (eds),Multidisciplinary
Approaches to Code-Switching, Amsterdam: John Benjamins, pp. 103–20.References
Bak, P. (1996)How Nature Works: The Science of Self-organized Criticality, New York:
Copernicus.
Bak, P., Tang, C. and Wiesenfeld, K. (1987)“Self-organized criticality: An explanation
of 1/f noise”,Physical Review Letters, vol. 59: 364.
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