The subject you're referring to is known as
Second Langauge Acquisition (SLA) and
the best source to date is
ELLIS, R. 1985.
Understanding Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
SLA Theories are divided into two major groups: THEORIES BASED ON "NURTURE"
(environmental factors are believe to be more dominant in language acquisition)
- Bakhtin’s Theory of Polyphony or Dialogics
- Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development
- Skinner’s Verbal Behavior
- Piaget’s View of Language Acquisition
- The Competition Model
- Cognitive Theory: Language Acquisition View
- Discourse Theory
- The Speech Act Theory
- The Acculturation Model
- Accommodation Theory
- The Variable Competence
- The Interactionist View of Language Acquisition
- The Connectionist Model
THEORIES BASED ON “NATURE”
(innate factors are believed to be more dominant in language acquisition)
- A Neurofunctional Theory of Language Acquisition
- The Universal Grammar Theory
- Fodor’s Modular Approach
- The Monitor Model
For a great overview go to
http://www.maxpages.com/thena/ladiscussion2
:D