What Exactly Are Positive and Negative Evidence in Sla?

Abstract

While terms and their relation to the practices they supposedly represent continue to be loosely defined in SLA, the theoretical debates and empirical comparisons surrounding them will have limited consequence. The purpose of this paper is to identify the range of differing linguistic behaviours included under POSITIVE and NEGATIVE EVIDENCE with a view to offering a greater clarification of the two terms from a learner's perspective. Unfortunately, evidence can be potentially enlightening just as it can be potentially misleading, and an attempt is made to identify both the former and the latter cases. If we can understand the evidences and situations that can lead to potential confusion we may be closer to offering students actual evidence that can lead them nearer to the truth.