Building a semiotic repertoire for social action: interactional competence as biographical discovery. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eskildsen, Søren W.
• Is Part Of: Classroom discourse. Volume 9:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 68
• Page End: 76
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Usage-based linguistics -- semiotic resources -- social action -- portability; Discourse analysis -- Periodicals; Discourse analysis; Periodicals; 371.102205
• DOI: 10.1080/19463014.2018.1437052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1946-3014

Abstract

Abstract: This commentary draws on the four articles in this issue to discuss interactional competence from a usage-based perspective. The usage-based conception of language knowledge as an inventory of form-meaning pairings used for communicative purposes will be qualified by incorporating the idea that these communicative purposes are social actions. L2 learning is a matter of biographical discovery in which the accomplishment of social actions is the driving force and L2 teaching should revolve around semiotic resources for accomplishing these. I conclude by calling for further usage-based L2 research that builds on and advances a view of language as a tool for social action.