ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book draws on the very limited number of studies to closely examine the use of demonstrative forms in second language (L2) speech. It presents a longitudinal case study of references by one Korean user of English in interview data over the course of her mainstream academic studies. The book looks at reference used for topic continuity produced by first language (L1) English–L2 Spanish learners from a corpus-based perspective. It provides an investigation into L1 Spanish–L2 English learners’ production of definite, indefinite and zero article use in written academic essays, using the Gundel et al. The book explores the impact of bi-directionality within L1/L2 pairs on L2 reference production, in this case determining whether the presence of similar form-function mappings for referent introductions necessarily leads the speaker to use the “corresponding” form in the L2.
