Unified pedagogical linguistics: Bridging generative and usage-based SLA in language teaching

This article argues that generative and usage-based theories of Second Language Acquisition (SLA), which are often treated as incompatible, offer complementary insights for language teaching. While generative approaches can draw on formal linguistic theory to identify linguistic properties that are likely to cause difficulty for learners, usage-based models based on frequency, analogy and schematisation shed light on how learners can engage with the input to eventually overcome these difficulties. Drawing on recent theoretical discussions and classroom-based empirical studies, I argue that both traditions are therefore well-equipped to address two fundamental questions related to language pedagogy: what properties should be taught, and how should these be taught? I illustrate how this synergy can be applied to inform the teaching of complex grammatical features, such as article semantics and wh-questions, through both formal linguistic analysis and usage-based instructional design. By reframing SLA debates around a shared pedagogical goal, this article hopes to encourage more dialogue across traditionally distinct theoretical frameworks and contribute towards closing the gap between linguistic theory and classroom practice.