The Minimal Trees Hypothesis (Vainikka and Young-Scholten 1994; 1996a; 1996b)
proposes that second language (L2) initial state grammars lack functional categories
because functional categories are not subject to transfer effects. The aim of this
article is to argue that, to some extent, functional categories instantiated in the
learner's first language (L1) transfer to the initial state of L2 syntactic
development. On the basis of Zulu interlanguage (IL) data on the acquisition of the
obligatory declarative complementizer ukuthi(‘that’) by
English native speakers, it is argued that Comp contains a null complementizer
system which has sufficient syntactic content to generate subordination in the
learners' initial Zulu IL grammar. Regarding transfer of functional
categories, it is suggested that null Comp evident at the Zulu L2 initial state is
transferred from English, the subjects' L1.
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