Abstract
This paper provides an overview of some of the advantages of the Principles and Parameters approach to language acquisition research, and suggests that modularity is a particularly helpful feature of this approach. It argues that serious attention to modularity clarifies research thinking, encouraging us to examine the boundaries between modules in constructive ways. Particular attention is paid to the boundary between syntax and pragmatics as illustrative of such boundary issues in general. Researchers are encouraged to examine other frameworks for their contributions to a more eclectic view of language acquisition than currently popular, with the anticipation that it will lead to a healthy interaction between the contributions of different approaches.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
