Language Proficiency Comparison L1 vs L2

Language Acquisition and Communicative Competence

• Receptive and expressive macro skills build a person's knowledge background.
• Viewing, or interpreting visual images, is a crucial skill in modern language education.
• Integrating viewing skills into language arts programs improves comprehension of both print and nonprint materials.
• Developing macro skills enhances communicative competence, which involves using vocabulary, grammar, and literature appropriately.
• Communicative competence involves a synthesis of knowledge and skill needed for communication.
• There are three types of knowledge: knowledge of underlying grammatical principles, knowledge of language use in social context, and knowledge of combining utterances and communicative functions.

First Language (L1) and Second Language (L2) Acquisition

• L1 is attained with 100% proficiency naturally, while L2 proficiency can be achieved but not as efficiently or fully as L1.
• L1 does not require formal instruction, whereas L2 requires continuous guidance and instruction.
• L1 begins with telegraphic speech around 18-24 months, while L2 starts with full sentences, typically learned after proficiency in L1.
• L1 is an integral part of everyday life, while L2 is a new aspect of life if chosen by the individual.
• L1 is acquired subconsciously without conscious effort, while L2 requires constant conscious effort to internalize language structures.

Factors that Highlight the Differences between L1 and L2

• Age: Children around 6 years old are most adept at learning a second language, while adults may find it more challenging.
• Personality: A child's personality does not significantly affect the acquisition of the first language, but it can impact the learning process of a second language.
• Culture: The first language is closely tied to a person's culture and identity.

Native Language and Foreign Language

• Native language is the language spoken by a person since childhood within their community or region.
• Native language is intimately tied to cultural heritage and social identity, influencing communication patterns.
• Foreign language is learned by individuals for communication with speakers of that language or for academic/professional purposes.

Common Language and Multilingualism

• A common language, or lingua franca, serves as a medium of communication between speakers of different native languages.
• Multilingualism refers to the ability of individuals or communities to speak or understand more than one language fluently.
• Multilingual individuals acquire proficiency in multiple languages through formal education, exposure to diverse linguistic environments, migration, or family background.

Visual, Tactile, and Chemical Communication

• Visual communication involves visible signals such as gestures, facial expressions, and coloration.
• Tactile communication involves touching and physical contact, used for social bonding, grooming, and dominance displays.
• Chemical communication involves the release of pheromones, chemical substances that affect behavior or physiology.
• Types of pheromones include primer pheromones, alarm pheromones, and food trail pheromones.

Explore the differences between L1 and L2 language proficiency regarding attainment, instruction, starting point, and integration into daily life. Learn about the natural acquisition of L1, while L2 typically requires formal instruction and guidance.