andrespråk

Andrespråk is a Norwegian term for a language learned in addition to a person’s first language. The concept covers any non-native language used for communication in daily life, education, work, or society. It can be acquired early in life in bilingual environments or later through formal instruction or immersion.

Second-language acquisition (L2) studies describe how learners gain competence across speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Learners typically move through an evolving interlanguage, influenced by cross-linguistic transfer from their first language and by the amount and quality of exposure to the L2. Key factors include age of exposure, motivation, learning context, input quality and quantity, and opportunities to use the language in meaningful interaction. Phonological development, syntax, vocabulary, and pragmatic skills may progress at different rates, and fossilization can result in persistent non-native features.

In education, andrespråk often refers to the L2 learned in addition to the standard classroom language; in multilingual communities, it may be the dominant community language or a heritage language. Assessment uses frameworks such as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to describe proficiency levels. Proficiency is frequently domain-specific; a person may be fluent in speaking but less proficient in writing academic registers.

Research also considers sociolinguistic aspects, such as language attitudes, identity, and policy influence on access to language resources and opportunities for practice. Bilingualism associated with robust executive function and metalinguistic skills is widely studied, though outcomes depend on context and support.