Noticing Hypothesis

The noticing hypothesis is a theory within second language acquisition holding that a learner cannot continue advancing their language ability or grasp a linguistic feature unless they consciously notice the input containing it. The theory was proposed by Richard Schmidt in 1990 to explain the change from linguistic input into intake, and is considered a form of conscious processing distinct from mere attention or understanding; it has been criticized within both psychology and second language acquisition. Schmidt and Frota studied noticing using Schmidt himself as a Portuguese language learner, collecting findings through diary study and audio recordings, and Schmidt modified the hypothesis in 1994 in light of that criticism.