Hello Felicia - nice question, thanks! I don't really know the answer, but was struck by the similar nomenclature for machine learning, i.e. bootstrapping methods to randomly sort and select sample data before entering the algorithm. Is this roughly the same concept? Cheers, Brett.

Hello,

I am aware of a recent study (see poster attached; Angela Grant & Ping Li) on L2 word learning. They find progressive abstraction -- which would tie in with current research on symbols in language use (cf. modal and amodal symbols at stake).

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Angela_Grant3

Pablo and Brett, thanks for your answers: the bootstrapping i mean in language learning is defined as 'In general parlance, bootstrapping usually refers to the starting of a self- sustaining process that is supposed to proceed without external input in first language acquisition. I will read Angela Grant's paper carefully to see whether it is relevant. In L1, children learns to segment speech stream using intonation. So before they go down to the word level, in English for example, they segment phrases first by learning to detect where intonation occurs in the carer's speech. I wonder whether anyone is doing this kind of work for L2 learners of foreign languages. 

 Hi Felicia

In general, once any L2 learner gains a certain level of ability in processing the L2, which inevitably depends upon acquired L2 knowledge and skills, we could define them as having "bootstrapped" their language learning. However, I don't think this is often the perspective taken by L2 and SLA researchers and I have never seen any SLA research framed this way.

I am also very interested in this idea of "bootstrapping" in SLA, but am currently taking it from the perspective of language learning aptitude and language learning aptitude enhancement. The research is early days yet.

If you hear anything, please let me know!