Description:
This is the first comprehensive, systematic overview of research on the acquisition of Russian as a second language. Drawing on classic and contemporary empirical studies from diverse learning contexts and proficiency levels, it synthesizes findings across all components of the language.
Review Quotes:
A groundbreaking, data-driven analysis of Russian second language acquisition. Responding to the increasingly diverse landscape of language learners, this comprehensive study examines both adult L2 learners and heritage speakers with unprecedented depth and balance. The authors investigate core linguistic domains--phonology, morphology, syntax, and pragmatics--while exploring how age of acquisition, input quality, and cross-linguistic influence shape pathways to mastery. What sets this work apart is its methodological rigor, theoretical sophistication, and systematic comparison across learner populations. Essential reading for researchers in SLA and bilingualism.
Maria Polinsky, University of Maryland
This monograph, a long-awaited exploration of issues in second language acquisition that centers on Russian and spans the linguistic domains from phonology to pragmatics, presents complex theoretical and empirical issues in an accessible form. It will become a standard reading for Russian linguists, psycholinguists, and experts on language pedagogy.
Kira Gor, St. Petersburg State University
The acquisition of Russian as a second language: A research overview is a valuable contribution to the field. Its focus on comparing different learners (children, heritage speakers and adults) allows the authors to impact current debates on age of acquisition, as well as quality and quantity of the input. It is a must-read for scholars and teachers of Russian.
Roumyana Slabakova, University of Southampton