Time vs type?

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.