Introducing a multimodal perspective to emotional variables in second language acquisition education: Systemic...

Area of Science:

• Applied Linguistics
• Discourse Analysis
• Second Language Acquisition

Background:

• Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA) examines meaning-making across various semiotic resources.
• Systemic Functional Theory provides a framework for analyzing language in social contexts.
• Existing research in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) often overlooks the complex interplay of multimodal resources and affective variables.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Systemic Functional Multimodal Discourse Analysis (SF-MDA) approach.
• To demonstrate the utility of SF-MDA in the domain of SLA, particularly for exploring L2 affective variables.
• To explore the integration of SF-MDA with Complexity and Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) in applied linguistics.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical exposition of SF-MDA.
• Justification of SF-MDA's applicability to SLA and L2 affective variables.
• Review of exemplary research utilizing SF-MDA in SLA and affective variable studies.

Main Results:

• SF-MDA provides a robust framework for analyzing meaning across diverse modes (textual, visual, etc.).
• The approach aligns with CDST, enabling a deeper understanding of the dynamic and developmental nature of L2 affective variables.
• SF-MDA enhances the exploration of how multimodal resources influence language learning.

Conclusions:

• SF-MDA offers significant benefits for SLA research, particularly in understanding affective dimensions.
• The integration of SF-MDA with CDST opens new avenues for research in applied linguistics.
• This approach facilitates a more nuanced analysis of language learning as a complex, dynamic process.