ABSTRACT
We will see that unlike the previous two chapters, which reviewed several different approaches all labeled under the same, larger umbrella term (social or cognitive approaches), the present chapter focuses on one particular approach: the Variationist Approach. Variationist approaches are compatible with several of the theories advanced in Chapters Four and Five. For example, variationist theory affords a role for social factors, either those describing the individual (e.g., age or level of education) or the setting in which the individual uses language (e.g., abroad vs. at home). In addition, because it models the patterns in language itself, rather than finding its roots in a particular conceptualization of how the mind works, this approach is compatible with several of the emergentist theories described in Chapter Five. Thus, this final chapter on approaches to second language variation, in our view, represents a viable bridge between the range of theories outlined in the two preceding chapters and, consequently, will receive greater attention throughout the remainder of this volume.
