Although, chaos/complexity theory and SLA have commonplaces, they seem to be different in that chaos/complexity theory offers the wider perspective that has served SLA in the past. As opposed to SLA, chaos/complexity theory encourages linguists to think in relational terms. It refers to the fact that by accepting participation metaphor/language use/emergent grammar position, chaos/complexity theory does not reject psychological perspective. As it is stated , chaos complexity theory like socialists focus on the following issues: 1. all languages are static 2. there are mechanisms for language change 3.language and learning are seen as an open systems. Nevertheless, C/CT never rejects the following characteristics which psychological perspective focuses on: 1. languages are sensitive to initial conditions 2. there are systemic patterns with dynamic paths.

1. Characteristics of complex systems germane to Chaos/Complexity theory and SLA
Characteristics of
complex systems
Complex, nonlinear systems and FLA Complex, nonlinear systems and
SLA
Dynamic Languages can be described as a collection
of static units which require active process
while using. Any time a language is used, it
changes. Languages grow either
diachronically or synchronically
Learners' interlanguage have an
ever-changing character
Complex Language is complex and composed of
different and interdependent subsystems,
each interacting with each other
SLA is complex because a multitude
of interacting are involved in SLA
Non linear New forms enter and leave language in a
non additive way.
IL is full of peaks and valleys. In
order to learn adjectives, learners do
not need to learn noun first.
Chaotic Like any other complex nonlinear systems,
language has the potential to enter in to
disorder; however this disorder is
temporary.
According to Larsen-Freeman, the IL
system is convulsed in to chaos. (e.g.
after a lot of exposure to regular,
irregular verbs, learners will master
it. However, in this stage they may
overgeneralize ed to the end of
regular tense, i.e. language enter in
to a disorder which is not permanent)
Unpredictable New forms enter and leave language in a
non predictable way. We can only realize
the change of language after its occurrence.
Il is changing constantly. It is not
clear which element will be acquired
next.
Sensitive to initial
condition
UG is the initial condition of human
language which contains certain principles.
Actually, it makes the shape of human
languages.
UG is present in IL; however there
are different views on the way that
such an initial condition exists, e.g.
one view believe that UG is
available for L2 in the same way that
is available for L1.
Open Language is an open system which receives
new input from the technical world for
instance and as a result does not tend to
entropy.
IL is open because the target is
always moving.
Self organizing Input from the outer world is an important
factor in structuring and restructuring of the
language.
While learners receive new input, the
organization of language changes.
Language, constantly, recognizes
and restructures itself to obtain
equilibrium. It moves from chaos to
order.
Feed back
sensitive
Each language has a feedback mechanism
in it. Positive feedback from the input
causes the language to develop while
negative feedback impedes the process of
language acquisition.
Learner's IL is highly affected by the
feedback they receive from the
environment.
Adoptive Language, actively, tries to select from a
mass of input, what is advantages to its
development.
While learning a language, learners
are exposed to a large amount of
input. IL responds actively to this
input by selecting those elements
which are needed for self organizing.
Strange attractors UG is a grammatical path that allows the
sentences as infinite variations to be
produced in a finite grammar space.
Learners' IL is affected by their L1
strange attractors rather than the TL's
strange attractors (e.g. pronunciation
of English as a TL is affected by
Turkish as an L)
fractal shape Language pattern is a fractal and nested
pattern that allows languages to store a
large number of information in to a small
space.
Again like L1 shape, IL's shape is a
fractal and nested pattern.

2. Characteristics of complex systems germane to Chaos/Complexity theory and SLA