This article explores the prospects for a 'general nativist' theory of first and second language acquisition. A modular acquisition device that does not include Universal Grammar (UG) is outlined and its role in the emergence of an L1 is considered. The relevance of this proposal for a theory of SLA is then explored, leading to the suggestion that the properties and outcome typical of postadolescent L2 learning can be traced to the fact that adults have only partial access to the L1 acquisition device.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Bach, E.1988: Categorial grammars as theories of language. In Oehrle, R., Bach, E. and Wheeler, D., editors, Categorial grammars and natural language structures, Dordrecht: Reidel, 17-34.
2.
Berwick, R.1985: The acquisition of syntactic knowledge. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
3.
Bley-Vroman, R.1989: What is the logical problem of foreign language learning? In Gass, S. and Schachter, J., editors, Linguistic perspectives on second language acquisition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 41-68.
4.
— 1994: Updating the Fundamental Difference Hypothesis. Talk presented at the EURSLA convention, Aix-en-Provence.
5.
Bley-Vroman, R. and Yoshinaga, N.1992: Broad and narrow constraints on the English dative alternation: some fundamental differences between native speakers and foreign language learners. University of Hawai'i Working Papers in ESL11, 157-99.
6.
Bowerman, M.1985: What shapes children's grammars? In Slobin, D., editor, The crosslinguistic study of language acquisition. Vol. 2. Theoretical issues, Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1257-1314.
7.
Braine, M.1987: What is learned in acquiring word classes - a step toward an acquisition theory. In MacWhinney, B., editor, Mechanisms of language acquisition, New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 65-87.
8.
Chomsky, N.1995: The Minimalist Program. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
9.
Coppetiers, R.1987: Competence differences between native and nonnative speakers . Language63, 544-73.
10.
Derwing, B.1973: Transformational grammar as a theory of language acquisition , New York: Cambridge University Press.
11.
Eimas, P.1974: Linguistic processing of speech by young infants. In Schiefelbusch, R. and Lloyd, L., editors, Language perspectives- acquisition, retardation and intervention, Baltimore, MD: University Park Press, 55-73.
12.
Felix, S.1987: Cognition and language growth, Dordrecht : Foris.
13.
Finer, D.1991: Binding parameters in second language acquisition. In Eubank, L., editor, Point/counterpoint: Universal Grammar in the second language, Philadelphia, PA: John Benjamins, 351-74.
14.
Fodor, J.1975: The language of thought. New York: Crowell.
15.
Griffiths, R.1992: Speech rate and listening comprehension: further evidence of the relationship. TESOL Quarterly26, 385-90.
16.
Hirakawa, M.1990: A study of the L2 acquisition of English reflexives. Second Language Research6, 60-85.
17.
Hirtle, W.1982: Number and inner space: A study of grammatical number in English. Quebec: Presses de l'Université Laval.
18.
Inagaki, S.1994: The acquisition of narrow-range rules for the dative alternation in English by Japanese and Chinese adults learners of English. Scholarly paper. Department of ESL, University of Hawai'i.
19.
Jackendoff, R.1976: Toward an explanatory semantic representation. Linguistic Inquiry7, 89-150.
Kanno, K.1996: Access to Universal Grammar in second language acquisition: data from the interpretation of null arguments in Japanese. Linguistics, in press.
22.
— 1997: The status of a non-parametrized principle in the L2 initial state. Language Acquisition, in preparation.
23.
Kayne, R.1983: Connectedness. Linguistic Inquiry14, 223-50.
24.
Kelch, K.1985: Modified input as an aid to comprehension. Studies in Second Language Acquisition7, 81-90.
25.
Larson, R.1988: On the double object construction. Linguistic Inquiry19, 335-92.
26.
Long, M.1990: Maturational constraints on language development. Studies in Second Language Acquisition12, 251-85.
27.
MacWhinney, B. and Bates, E., editors, 1989: The crosslinguistic study of sentence processing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
28.
Maratsos, M. and Chalkley, M.1981: The internal language of children's syntax: the ontogenesis and representation of syntactic categories. In Nelson, K., editor, Children's language. Volume 2, New York: Gardner Press, 127-214.
29.
Newport, E.1990: Maturational constraints on language learning. Cognitive Science14, 11-28.
30.
Nida, E.1946: Morphology: the descriptive analysis of words. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
31.
O'Grady, W.1987: Principles of grammar and learning. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
32.
O'Grady, W.1991: Categories and case: the sentence structure of Korean . Philadelphia, PA and Amsterdam : John Benjamins.
33.
— 1996a: Syntactic developmentChicago: University of Chicago Press (in press).
34.
— 1996b: The acquisition of syntactic representations: a general nativist approach. In Ritchie, W. and Bhatia, T., editors, Handbook of language acquisition, New York: Academic Press (in press).
35.
Peters, A.1983: The units of language acquisition. New York: Cambridge University Press.
36.
Peters, A. and Menn, L.1993: False starts and filler syllables: ways to learn grammatical morphemes. Language69, 742-77.
37.
Pinker, S.989: Learnability and cognition: the acquisition of argument structure. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press .
38.
Sawyer, M.1995: Learnability, teachability, and argument structure: Adult Japanese learners' acquisition of the English dative alternation. PhD dissertation, Department of ESL, University of Hawai'i atManoa.
39.
Schlesinger, I.M.1982: Steps to language. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
40.
Shimura, A.1990: Testing the availability of Universal Grammar in second language acquisition: the Governing Category Parameter and the Proper Antecedent Parameter in Japanese as a second language. MA. thesis, Department of ESL, University of Hawai'i at Manoa.
41.
Slobin, D.1985: Crosslinguistic evidence for the language-making capacity . In Slobin, D., editor, The crosslinguistic study of language acquisition. Vol. 2. Theoretical issues , Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1157-1256.
42.
Stampe, D.1973: A dissertation on natural phonology. PhD. dissertation , University of Chicago.
43.
Thomas, M.1989: The interpretation of English reflexive pronouns by non-native speakers. Studies in Second Language Acquisition11, 281-303.
44.
— 1991: Universal Grammar and the interpretation of reflexives in a second language. Language67, 211-39.
45.
Uziel, S.1993: Resetting Universal Grammar parameters: evidence from second language acquisition of Subjacency and the Empty Category Principle . Second Language Research9, 49-83.
46.
Wexler, K. and Manzini, M.1987: Parameters and learnability in binding theory. In Roeper, T. and Williams, E., editors, Parameter setting, Dordrecht: Reidel, 41-76.
47.
White, L.1989: Universal Grammar and second language acquisition. Philadelphia, PA: John Benjamins.
48.
Wickens, M.1991: Grammatical number in English nouns. Philadelphia, PA: John Benjamins.
49.
Yoshinaga, N.1991: Acquisition of the English dative construction by the Japanese: a learnability approach to second language acquisition. MA. thesis, Department of ESL, University of Hawai'i.
50.
Yuan, B.1994: Second language acquisition of reflexives revisited. Language70, 539-45.
