Parameters in L2 learning: Flynn revisited

Abstract

In a series of studies, Suzanne Flynn (1984; 1987a; 1987b) has proposed a specific theory with regard to Universal Grammar (Chomsky, 1986) and second language learning. The present study, a replication of the methodology and hypotheses in Flynn (1987b), utilizes Arabic-speaking learners of ESL, who are predicted by Flynn's theory to perform much like her Spanish-speaking subjects. Present findings, however, contradict those of Flynn's work and, thus, cast doubt on her theory of Universal Grammar and L2 learning. Closer examination then reveals that the linguistic underpinnings of Flynn's theory in Huang (1982) have been superseded by the more recent analysis of Koopman (1984), which does not support Flynn's theory. Furthermore, certain assumptions on processing main and subordinate clauses (Townsend and Bever, 1978) and sentence anaphora (Carden, 1986; Reinhart, 1986), which have the capacity to predict Flynn's findings, also fail satisfactorily to predict the results from the speakers of Arabic. Finally, an analysis that predicts a failure of parsing under certain conditions is presented and found to predict the present findings with a high degree of accuracy. However, the parsing analysis must be subjected to further study with an aim toward falsification before it can be assumed to be conclusive.