Revisiting the L2 Factor in Third Language Acquisition: A Brief Literature Review

This article reviews key hypotheses and research on the influence of the second language (L2) in third language (L3) acquisition. It is highlighted that not only the cognitive status but also the degree of maturity of the L2 can affect the transferability of relevant properties at the L3 initial stage and acquisition outcomes at later stages. The urgency of a new approach to encode dynamic interactions between the two developing interlanguage grammars and to identify consistent developmental patterns in their interplay in L3 acquisition is clear.