ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights synergies in the study of language change (diachronic change) and second language acquisition (SLA). Both are domains of grammatical instability and change, and both share important commonalities. My goals are to raise awareness among L2 researchers of similarities between diachronic change and SLA by selectively reviewing research that combines or references both domains. The chapter presents commonalities between SLA and diachronic change, general theoretical questions of interest to both areas of inquiry, and current and recent topics of inquiry, in the hope that more researchers working in SLA will incorporate awareness of – and insights from – historical linguistics into their work, and vice versa.
