Ausubel distinguishes two kinds of human learning: (1) rote learning, relevant only to a small fraction of human learning, is the mechanistic formation of discrete, isolated traces in cognitive structure, usually through a process of conditioning; (2) meaningful learning, characteristic of most human learning, is a process of "subsuming" material into an established conceptual hierarchy by means of such capacities as symbolic representation, abstraction, categorization, and generalization. Rote learning can be effective on a short-term basis, but for any long term retention, it fails because of the tremendous buildup of interference. The theory of subsumption infers the operation of certain "cognitive pruning" procedures in meaningful learning by means of which a person systematically "forgets" certain cognitive material in order to enhance learning. This perspective provides a strong theoretical basis for the rejection of rote learning processes and suggests, accordingly, a restructuring of theories in second language acquisition. (Author/VM)