COGNITIVE FOUNDATIONS OF THE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION PROCESS
Keywords:
Language acquisition; cognition; memory; attention; psycholinguistics; metacognitive awareness; cognitive approach; second language learningAbstract
The study of language acquisition has increasingly shifted towards cognitive perspectives,
emphasizing the role of mental processes in developing linguistic competence. Cognitive foundations
of language learning involve mechanisms such as perception, memory, attention, and problem-solving,
which interact to support learners in mastering phonological, lexical, grammatical, and pragmatic
aspects of language. This approach highlights how learners actively construct knowledge rather than
simply imitating or repeating linguistic input. Cognitive theories also stress the importance of prior
experience, conceptual development, and metacognitive awareness in the language acquisition process.
By integrating insights from psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, and educational psychology, the
cognitive perspective provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how language is
internalized and applied in communication. This study contributes to ongoing discussions by outlining
the theoretical and practical significance of cognitive principles in second language acquisition and by
offering implications for language teaching methodology.
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