Factors Contributing to Second Language Speaking Development: Cognitive Aspects and Theoretical Models

Authors

  • Essa Qurbi

    English Department, Najran University, Najran 66462, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i9.10683
Received: 24 June 2025 | Revised: 9 July 2025 | Accepted: 22 July 2025 | Published Online: 16 September 2025

Abstract

This paper presents  an overview of some of the cognitive and neurolinguistic factors influencing second language (L2) speech development, focusing on factors like the role of different types of memory, psychological aspects, and theoretical models of second language (L2) acquisition. It sheds light on aspects like central executive, phonological loop, and visuospatial sketchpad which are the three components of working memory contributing to the processing of linguistic input and output. It also covers factors that contribute to L2 speaking development such as attention mechanisms with respect to selective and flexible attention which both allow efficient use of language comprehension and production. On the other hand, this review reviews factors related to psycholinguistics such as lexical access, grammatical encoding, and phonological processing which are responsible for contributing to fluent L2 speech production. Input Processing Model and Speech Production Model are models that contribute towards understanding of the interaction between L2 learning and speech production. Furthermore, factors like affective conditions, such as motivation and anxiety, are discussed as well. Overall, the present  paper provides an overview of these psychological and cognitive factors that remarkably influence effective L2 speaking and development.

Keywords:

Second Language Speaking; Cognitive Aspects; Psycholinguistics; Speaking Development

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How to Cite

Qurbi, E. (2025). Factors Contributing to Second Language Speaking Development: Cognitive Aspects and Theoretical Models. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(9), 879–890. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i9.10683

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 9 (September 2025)

Article Type

Review

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Copyright © 2025 Essa Qurbi

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.