Time vs type? Contact effects on L2 development during study abroad and after

Anne Marie Devlin; Annarita Magliacane; Clare Wright

doi:10.1075/sar.26014.mag

Time vs type? Contact effects on L2 development during study abroad and after

Anne Marie Devlin
, Annarita Magliacane
, Clare Wright

School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

University of Liverpool
University of Leeds

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This special issue brings together articles which explore the highly
contested, yet under-researched, impact of length of stay (LoS) of study
abroad (SA) on the development of various aspects of the linguistic
repertoire. It positions LoS as a significant complex variable interacting with
myriad interconnected elements and which should be considered a central
factor in all SA research. We argue for clearer specifications of LoS to be
used throughout SA research, ensuring well-founded justifications for why
different LoS may generate divergent linguistic outcomes. We start with an
evaluation of how LoS is operationalized. We then provide a general
overview of its impact, before turning our focus to how LoS relates
specifically to the elements of the linguistic repertoire addressed by the
papers in this special issue — namely oral proficiency, lexical, grammatical,
and sociopragmatic development.
Keywords: length of stay, duration, language development

Original language	English (Ireland)
Journal	Study Abroad Research in Second Language Acquisition and International Education
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1075/sar.26014.mag
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 2026

Access to Document

10.1075/sar.26014.mag

Cite this

@article{aeb33076979b463586121064c9548626,

title = "Time vs type? Contact effects on L2 development during study abroad and after",

abstract = "This special issue brings together articles which explore the highly contested, yet under-researched, impact of length of stay (LoS) of study abroad (SA) on the development of various aspects of the linguistic repertoire. It positions LoS as a significant complex variable interacting with myriad interconnected elements and which should be considered a central factor in all SA research. We argue for clearer specifications of LoS to be used throughout SA research, ensuring well-founded justifications for why different LoS may generate divergent linguistic outcomes. We start with an evaluation of how LoS is operationalized. We then provide a general overview of its impact, before turning our focus to how LoS relates specifically to the elements of the linguistic repertoire addressed by the papers in this special issue {\textemdash} namely oral proficiency, lexical, grammatical, and sociopragmatic development. Keywords: length of stay, duration, language development",

author = "Devlin, \{Anne Marie\} and Annarita Magliacane and Clare Wright",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1075/sar.26014.mag",

language = "English (Ireland)",

journal = "Study Abroad Research in Second Language Acquisition and International Education",

issn = "2405-5522",

publisher = "John Benjamins Publishing Company",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Time vs type? Contact effects on L2 development during study abroad and after

AU - Devlin, Anne Marie

AU - Magliacane, Annarita

AU - Wright, Clare

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - This special issue brings together articles which explore the highly contested, yet under-researched, impact of length of stay (LoS) of study abroad (SA) on the development of various aspects of the linguistic repertoire. It positions LoS as a significant complex variable interacting with myriad interconnected elements and which should be considered a central factor in all SA research. We argue for clearer specifications of LoS to be used throughout SA research, ensuring well-founded justifications for why different LoS may generate divergent linguistic outcomes. We start with an evaluation of how LoS is operationalized. We then provide a general overview of its impact, before turning our focus to how LoS relates specifically to the elements of the linguistic repertoire addressed by the papers in this special issue — namely oral proficiency, lexical, grammatical, and sociopragmatic development. Keywords: length of stay, duration, language development

AB - This special issue brings together articles which explore the highly contested, yet under-researched, impact of length of stay (LoS) of study abroad (SA) on the development of various aspects of the linguistic repertoire. It positions LoS as a significant complex variable interacting with myriad interconnected elements and which should be considered a central factor in all SA research. We argue for clearer specifications of LoS to be used throughout SA research, ensuring well-founded justifications for why different LoS may generate divergent linguistic outcomes. We start with an evaluation of how LoS is operationalized. We then provide a general overview of its impact, before turning our focus to how LoS relates specifically to the elements of the linguistic repertoire addressed by the papers in this special issue — namely oral proficiency, lexical, grammatical, and sociopragmatic development. Keywords: length of stay, duration, language development

U2 - 10.1075/sar.26014.mag

DO - 10.1075/sar.26014.mag

M3 - Article

SN - 2405-5522

JO - Study Abroad Research in Second Language Acquisition and International Education

JF - Study Abroad Research in Second Language Acquisition and International Education

ER -

Time vs type? Contact effects on L2 development during study abroad and after

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this