Abstract

The last ten years have witnessed a growing interest in the acquisition of third languages (L3s). Due to their sociolinguistic characteristics, Catalonia and the Basque Country are at the forefront in production of published empirical research in L3 acquisition. This article provides a review of research in L3 acquisition and argues that this research is worthwhile for practical and theoretical reasons. L3 acquisition studies can inform decisions regarding appropriate timing and procedures to incorporate foreign languages (L3s) in the bilingual curriculum, and they can shed light on important theoretical issues, such as the role of experience in language processing and the role of transfer in the acquisition of grammar.