Studia Generalia: Professor Scott Jarvis

The next public lecture of Studia Generalia entitled "Conceptual and
Cognitive Impetuses and Outcomes of Cross-Linguistic Influence" will be
delivered by Professor Scott Jarvis, Director of the Department of
Linguistics, Ohio University, USA. The lecture will take place in
auditorium M-225 (TU Mare building, Uus-Sadama 5) on Thursday, June 2 at
16:00.Cross-linguistic influence – or the influence that a previously
learned language on a person’s performance in a language that is
currently being learnt – has been relatively uncontroversial in the areas
of phonology and lexis. In the areas of morphology and syntax, on the other
hand, numerous scholars have claimed that cross-linguistic influence is
negligible if not non-existent, and these claims have been perpetuated in
prominent textbooks dealing with second language acquisition.The primary
purpose of this lecture is to highlight several recent studies which
indicate that both morphological and syntactic transfer are far more
prevalent than has generally been recognized. While doing so, the lecturer
will identify many ways in which cross-linguistic effects emerge in
language learners’ productive use and receptive processing of second
language morphology and syntax. The lecturer will also discuss theoretical
explanations that shed some light on the mechanisms through which these
types of cross-linguistic influence occur, as well as the conditions under
which they take place.Scott Jarvis is one of the most renowned experts on
second language acquisition. He is known for his particular expertise in
the study of how languages influence each other. In 2000, Jarvis made a
breakthrough in this field of study with his methodological framework for
analyzing the influence of a source language. This significant breakthrough
ended the theoretical and methodological confusion that was prevalent in
this field and helped to make the results of studies based on different
theoretical starting points comparable.Scott Jarvis is a renowned lecturer
and has been recognized with several awards, one of which is the
"Excellence in Teaching Award" which he received from both Ohio University
and also Indiana University. He has given more than 30 plenary speeches and
lectures in universities around the world and many presentations at
numerous conferences. Scott Jarvis was the Strand coordinator for Second
Language Acquisition – Language Acquisition and Attrition (2007) and a
member of the award committee for the American Association for Applied
Linguistics. He is the deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine "Language
Learning: A Journal of Research in Language Studies" and a member of the
Editorial Advisory Board of the magazine "Vigo International Journal of
Applied Linguistics".Scott Jarvis is visiting Tallinn as a University
Guest. He was invited to Tallinn University by the Institute of
Estonian Language and Culture.Professor Jarvis's presentation will mark the
end of the spring 2011 series of Studia Generalia lectures.Studia Generalia
is a series of public lectures delivered by the teachers, researchers and
visiting lecturers of TU. Anyone who enters the University building can
listen to what prominent thinkers have to say on current topics that affect
society, and also participate in the discussion. The lectures are held once
a month on Thursdays. Students can obtain two credits after participating
in the whole series. Participation is free of charge. In order to watch
past lectures, please visit the Tallinn Virtual University.For further
information please contactKaie LepikProject Manager, TU Studia
GeneraliaPhone: +372 641 0089Email: studia@tlu.ee
www.tlu.ee/studiageneralia