Literacy and Second Language Acquisition: Issues and Perspectives

This article is a theoretical exploration of the relationship between literacy and second language acquisition (SLA). First, a study which investigated this relationship and which was conducted in a Thai refugee camp is reviewed. Next, major findings in current second language research are presented, and these are then discussed both in terms of the findings of the study as well as in the light of conflicting approaches to contemporary issues in literacy. Specifically, it is suggested that a functional approach to investigating literacy is more useful for community problem solving than a developmental approach. Finally, it is argued that for a more comprehensive understanding of language learning, trends in literacy research might have a great deal to offer SLA researchers. It is further proposed that ethnographic investigations of literacy and language are the best means for understanding the roles of each in the intricate web of human relationships.