Volume: 14  Number: 2&3  Page: 153–169

‘Communicative Lingerings’: Exploring Awareness of L2 Influence on L1 in American Expatriates after Re-entry

Laura Sicola Language in Education Division, University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, USA

This study attempts to identify ways in which experiences of living abroad and working in an L2 environment have affected Americans’ communicative behaviour in the L1 upon repatriation. This study focuses on language behaviours occurring when participants interacted with people who did not share the L2 language or experience. These residual effects of learning the language and culture of the host country are called ‘Communicative Lingerings.’ Three general categories of lingerings are found and discussed: linguistic/paralinguistic lingerings, interactional lingerings and perceptual lingerings. Possible reasons for these occurrences, their connection to levels of acculturation and potential implications for L2 teaching and learning are also explored.

Keywords: L2 interference in L1, reverse culture shock, language attrition, second language acquisition

© 2005 L. Sicola

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