Applied Linguistics Advance from the Perspective of Complexity Theory and Dynamic Systems Theory

Abstract

Abstract: Given the complexity and unpredictability of various teaching contexts, front-line teachers, rather than professionals, prove to be the most desirable designers of the learning system conducive to learner development. The present study records the collaborative exploration of two college English teachers in translating teaching and learning theories to effective activities through instructional design (ID) of EAP writing program. The whole ID process takes an up-bottom approach, from the macro-level conceptualization of “comprehensive literacy” approach to EAP writing competence, to the micro-level establishment of “leaner community based, problem driving” orienting principle and its theoretical perspective, then down to the setting of parameters in the dynamic interactive designing system. Finally the notion that “teacher awareness triggers ID action” is suggested as a mechanism for the development of college English teacher's ID ability.

CLC Number:

LIU Wenyu, CHENG Yonghong. Applied Linguistics Advance from the Perspective of Complexity Theory and Dynamic Systems Theory[J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2013, 13(08): 31-34.

References

Bertalanffy, L. V. 1937. Das Gefüge des Lebens [M]. Leipeig: Teubner.
Byrne, D. 2005. Complexity, configurations and cases [J]. Theory, Culture & Society 22(5): 95-111.
Cilliers, P. 2008. Knowing complex systems: The limits of understanding [A]. In F. Darbellay, M. Cockell, J. Billotte & F.Waldvogel (eds.). A Vision of Transdisciplinarity: Laying Foundations for A World Knowledge Dialogue [C]. EPFL Press & CRC Press. 43-50.
Dörnyei, Z. 2009. The Psychology of Second Language Acquisition [M]. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ellis, N. C. & D. Larsen-Freeman. 2006. Language emergence: Implications for applied linguistics. Introduction to the special issue [J]. Applied Linguistics 27(4): 558-89.
Ellis, N. C. & D. Larsen-Freeman. 2009. Constructing a second language: Analyses and computational simulations of the emergence of linguistic constructions from usage [J]. Language Learning 59 (Supplement 1): 93-128.
Elman, J. 2003. Development: It's about time [J]. Developmental Science (6): 430-33.
Evans, J. 2007. The emergence of language: A dynamical system account [A]. In E. Hoff & M. Shatz (eds.). Handbook of Language Development [C]. Malden, MH: Blackwell. 128-47.
Halliday, M. A. K. 1990/2007. On the concept of ‘educational linguistics' [A]. In J. Webster (ed.). The Collected Works of M. A. K. Halliday, Volume 9: Language and Education [C]. London: Continuum. 354-67.
Halliday, M. A. K. 1991. Towards probabilistic interpretations [A]. In E. Ventola (ed.). Trends in Linguistic Studies and Monographs 55. Systemic Linguistics Approaches and Uses [C]. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. 39-62.
Herdina, P. & U. Jessner. 2002. A Dynamic Model of Multilingualism [M]. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Kramsch, C. 2002. Language Acquisition and Language Socialization [M]. London: Continuum.
Kramsch, C. 2008. Ecological perspectives on foreign language education [J]. Language Teaching 41(3): 389-408.
Larsen-Freeman, D. 1997. Chaos/complexity science and second language acquisition [J]. Applied Linguistics 18(2): 141-65.
Larsen-Freeman, D. 2006. The emergence of complexity, fluency and accuracy in the oral and written production of five Chinese learners of English [J]. Applied Linguistics 27: 590-619.
Larsen-Freeman, D. 2011. A complexity theory approach to second language development/acquisition [A]. In D. Atkinson (ed.) Alternative Approaches to Second Language Acqusition [C]. London: Routledge. 48-72.
Larsen-Freeman, D. & L. Cameron. 2008. Complex Systems and Applied Linguistics [M]. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Macqueen, S. M. 2009. Patterns in Second Language Writing [D]. University of Melbourne, Australia.
Meara, P. 2006. Emergent properties of multilingual lexicons [J]. Applied Linguistics 27(4): 620-44.
Miller, R. C. 1982. Varieties of interdisciplinary approaches in the social sciences: A 1981 Overview [J]. Issues in Integrative Studies (1): 1-37.
Morin, E. 2007. Restricted complexity, general complexity [A]. In C. Gershenson, D. Aerts & B. Edmonds (eds.). Worldviews, Science and Us: Philosophy and Complexity [C]. Singapore: World Scientific. 5-29.
Smith, L. & E. Thelen. 1993. A Dynamic Systems Approach to Development: Applications [M]. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Thelen, E. & L. Smith. 1994. A Dynamic System Approach to the Development of Cognition and Action [M]. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
王瑞华.2007.社区自组织能力的有机构成及其提升途径[J].四川大学学报(哲学社会科学版)(2):101-05.

[1]	XU Shenghuan, LIU Qian. The application of Causal Implication Theory: Study of conversational implicature taken as an example [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2021, 453(3): 5-20.
[2]	YANG Chaojun, YANG Gengqian. The Syntactic Mechanism of the Indirect Meaning of the WXDY Construction [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2021, 453(3): 71-83.
[3]	LIU Longgen, ZHU Xiaozhen, HUO Wenjing. An Empirical Study on Chinese Advanced EFL Learners' Semantic Intuition about the Relationship of Literal Meaning with “What-Is-Said” [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2019, 19(05): 50-62.
[4]	XUE Xiaojiao, WANG Xiaonan, ZHOU Weijing. A Study on the Intelligibility of Chinese Learners' Productions of English /l/-/r/ [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2019, 19(02): 44-56.
[5]	YANG Yaping. The Revival of Ordinary Language Philosophy [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2019, 19(01): 97-105.
[6]	MEI Xuan. Interpreting Moral Assertions from the Perspective of Implicature Theory [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2017, 17(06): 57-61.
[7]	CHEN Shifa, ZHU Lihui, WANG Ya, YANG Xin, GU Xiaolan, YANG Lianrui. Processing English Mono-morphemic Nouns and Verbs for English Learners of Chinese: An ERP Study [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2017, 17(06): 51-56.
[8]	QI Xi. To Argue and Persuade—the Debatable Standing in New York Times Editorials [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2017, 17(03): 24-28.
[9]	XIAO Ruolin, WEI Naixing. A Corpus-based Contrastive Study of N that-cl Patterns in Research Articles by Chinese and Western Scholars [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2017, 17(01): 34-41.
[10]	QU Tao. Interactions in Linguistic and Multimodal Texts: A Case Study of Pride and Prejudice [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2015, 15(09): 14-19.
[11]	LEI Qian, ZHANG Delu. A Multimodal Stylistic Study on the Two Covers of Graham Rawle’s Woman’s World [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2015, 15(09): 20-25.
[12]	SHI Chunxu, WANG Zhenhua. The Holistic Appraisal Construction in Multimodal History Textbooks [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2015, 15(09): 8-13.
[13]	LIU Rui, ZHANG Del. On the Assessment Framework for Chinese College Students’ Multiliteracies in Foreign Languages [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2015, 15(09): 26-31.
[14]	SHEN Xingchen, CHEN Xinren. A Cognitive Pragmatic Approach to Referential Ambiguity in Advertisements: A Case Study of Car Ads [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2015, 15(09): 33-38.
[15]	WANG Xueyu. Diachronic Changes of Discourse and Identity Construction: A Historical Sociopragmatic Perspective [J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2015, 15(09): 39-43.