2013

Aro, Mari

The present article discusses the concepts of language learning and language use. When are learners engaged in learning and what is it that they should learn? At what point do they become legitimate users of language and stop thinking of themselves as learners? In layman’s terms learning usually precedes language use: one first learns a language and can then use it. In linguistic research, particularly within the sociocultural approaches, it has recently been questioned whether a distinction between learning and using should be made at all. In the article, the definitions and boundaries pertaining to language learning and use are reflected on both from the point of view of the public and from the point of view of scholarly theories (sociocultural as well as dialogical).