Fossilization vs Stabilization

In addition, some learners' interlanguage stabilizes temporarily while some others’ becomes fossilized permanently. This has been established in many researchers' studies on the development of second language acquisition. In An Integrated Model of Language, Preson(1989)describes stability as a characteristic of the structure of the learner's interlanguage system.
中介语的定义
中介语又称过渡语，即学习者在某一阶段所
建立起来的目标语知酿系统和由此相互连接 而引起的一种连续体。 Selinker早在1969年在剑桥国际会议上就提 出了这一术语，并在1972年正式发表论文对 其进行全面阐述，In his interlanguage , Selinker introduced the concept of fossilization. 从此就确立了其在第二语言习得理论中的主 要地位。
2. The definition of stabilization
Stabilization comes from the verb "stabilize", which means "to (cause to) become firm, steady, or unchanging”. In second language acquisition, stabilization refers to the steady State in which there is no change occurring.
4. Stabilization and fossilization in language acquisition
Like all natural languages, interlanguage is variable. Theoretically, interlanguage variability is systematic along a developmental path, towards the target language. In fact, the availability of the target language model is often denied, and the degrees of the learners' interlanguage variability are consequently different due to a number of factors. A case in point is that some learners' interlanguage stabilizes earlier than the others'.
As Selinker says, stabilization is a temporary stage of "getting stuck", a natural stage in learning process. From that, we learn that stabilization is a language-acquisition stop at the moment, or for quite a long time. But it can be changed after being given certain conditions.
3. The distinction between fossilization and stabilization, and their relationship From the definitions above, we can conclude that fossilization refers to permanent retention of non-native interlanguage forms, while stabilization refers to the case in which nonnative linguistic items are not permanent, but may "destabilize" or change into the authentic target language norms.
It is apparent that stabilization is correctable, while fossilization is not ;stabilization is a temporary stop but fossilization is a permanent stop; and stabilization is a kind of learning state while fossilization is a kind of learning result. For example, in the formal second language learning situation, a learner may stick to a linguistic error for his whole school age. But after he comes to the natural acquisition situation, with his adequate exposure to the target language, the error may disappear. In this case, the error can only be seen as a stale system is one where there is an absence of variation because no new forms are entering the system and existing forms have become categorical. When this kind of stability is found, fossilization may occur. Drawing on Gatbonton's(1978) ideas of "diffusion model", Ellis suggests, in his formfunction networks (p366), that second language acquisition involves a first stage (the "acquisition phase"), where new forms are acquired and used in free variation, and subsequent stage (the"reorganization phase") where learners sort these forms into functional pigeon-holes.
语言石化的定义
语言的石化现象又叫语言的僵化现象，是指
语言学习者在外语或第二语言的学习过程中， 语言能力的培养一旦达到高峰期后，就会停 滞不前，且经常有退步的趋势， 这种现象就 是语言的石化现象。根据这一概念，我们可 以看出语言石化现象研究的对象是过渡语 （又叫中介语)。
(Routledge 语言学与应用语言学词典》把石 化解释成“习惯的永久保持”，而且强调， “虽然有最佳的教学要素和正确的反馈，石 化也会发生”。 (Bussman,1996) 石化的形成是二语学习中出现的一个过程。 在此过程中，语言学习者的二语或外语的异 常语言形式逐渐稳定下来，成为不可改变的 部分。这一过程是：出现错误一反复出现一 稳定一不可改变(石化)。在此过程中，一部分 错误会被改正，另一部分没能改正而石化。 这里就涉及到 fossilization 和 stabilization( 稳 定)的区别。
Fossilization vs. Stabilization
语言石化现象及其稳定性
Contents
1.Defination
of fossilization 2.Defination of stabilization 3.The distinction between fossilization and stabilization, and their relationship 4. Stabilization and fossilization in language acquisition
So after Selinker, Rod Ellis gave us the definition of fossilization: the persistence of a non-standard form in interlanguage. Of course, we know that the term ``fossilization" derives literally from "fossil" which refers to a kind of stone turned Cram a buried piece of soft wood because of the steady drip of calcium-containing water. By fossilization in language acquisition is meant the rigidity of mind and habit induced by the steady drip of wrong and harmful methods in learners.
However, stabilization is a necessary prelude to fossilization. That is to say, stabilization can lead to fossilization. Fossilization is more likely to occur if the learner is not motivated to change radically when he is held up at stabilization stage. In this way the errors committed by the language learner will be fossilized if he gets no opportunities of further exposure to the target language.
1. The definition of fossilization
According
to Hadumod Bussmann Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics, fossilization is a permanent retention of linguistic habits which, taken together, constitute a language-learner's interlanguage.
He pointed out:
It is important to note that fossilizable structures tend to remain as potential performance, reemerging in the productive performance of an IL even when seemingly eradicated. Fossilized forms may sometimes seem to but are always likely to reappear in productive language use, a phenomenon known as backsliding.