A Parameter-Setting Model of L2 Acquisition: Experimental Studies in Anaphora (Studies in Theoretical Psycholinguistics)

Suzanne Flynn

ISBN 10: 9027723745 / ISBN 13: 9789027723741

Published by D.Reidel, 1987

About this Item

Hardcover, xx + 246pp, bibliography & author index & index, NOT ex-library. A gently aged copy showing limited wear. Interior is clean, age-toned, with unmarked text, free of inscriptions and stamps. Firm secure binding throughout. Boards show uneven age-yellowing, one tiny repaired edge-nick to the lower front panel. Published without a dust jacket. -- Recent developments in linguistic theory have led to an important reorientation of research in related fields of linguistic inquiry as well as in linguistics itself. The developments I have in mind, viewed from the point of view of government-binding theory, have to do with the characterization of Universal Grammar (UG) as a set of subtheories, each with its set of central principles (perhaps just one principle central to each subtheory) and parameters (perhaps just one for each principle) according to which a principle can vary between an unmarked ('-') and a marked ('+') para­ metric value (Chomsky, 1985; 1986). For example, let us assume that there is an X-bar theory in explanation of those features of phrase structure irreducible to other subtheories of UG. Within X-bar theory variation among languages is then allowed only with respect to the position the head of a phrase occupies in relation to its complements such that the phrases of a language will be either right- or left-headed. Thus languages will vary between being right-headed in this respect (as in Japanese phrase structure) and being left-headed (as in English phrase structure). Everything else about the phrase structure of particular languages will be fixed within X-bar theory itself or else it will fallout from other subtheories of UG: Case theory; 0-theory, etc. (Chomsky, 1985:161-62; Chomsky, 1986:2-4; and references cited there). Hatters are the same in other modules of grammar. Contents: 1. Introduction 1.1 L2 Acquisition: The Problems and Traditional Answers 1.2 Universal Grammar 1.3 Basis for an Alternative Theory of L2 Acquisition 1.4 Outline of the Book 2. Traditional Theories of L2 Acquisition 2.1 Theory of Contrastive Analysis (CA) 2.2 Theory of Creative Construction (CC) 2.3 Bases for an Explanatory Theory of L2 Acquisition 2.4 Preliminary Conclusions 3. Universal Grammar 3.1 Universal Grammar 3.2 Universal Grammar as a Theory of Grammar 3.3 Linguistic Focus of Book 3.4 Relevant Linguistic Concepts for Experimental Tests of Pronoun and Null Anaphors 3.5 Universal Grammar as a Theory of Language Acquisition 3.6 Overview: UG and L2 Acquisition 3.7 Summary 4. A Typological Comparison Of Japanese and Spanish 4.1 Word Order, Configurationality, and Head-Initial/¿Head-Final Parameter 4.2 Anaphora 4.3 Adjunct Adverbial Subordinate Clauses 4.4 Summary of Cross-Linguistic Facts 5. Rationale and Design 5.1 General Hypotheses to be Tested 5.2 Overview: Experimental Design 5.3 Experimental Design and Hypotheses 5.4 Basic Controls on Experimental Design 6 Methodology 6.1 Subjects (Ss) 6.2 General Procedures 6.3 Materials 6.4 ESL Proficiency Test: Standardized Levels 6.5 Specific Experimental Task Procedures 6.6 Procedures for Data Transcription 6.7 Procedures for Scoring of the Data 7. Results 7.1 Results for Experimental Controls 7.2 Amount Correct: Results for Production Tests 7.3 Error Analyses: Results for Production Tests 1 to 3 7.4 Amount Correct: Results for Comprehension Test 4 7.5 Coreference Judgements (CRJs) 7.6 General Summary and Conclusions 8. Some Conclusions 8.1 General Summary 8.2 Similarities in L2 Acquisition for Spanish and Japanese Speakers 8.3 Dissimilarities in L2 Acquisition for Spanish and Japanese Speakers 8.4 Implications for an Alternative Theory of L2 Acquisition 8.5 Some Differences Between L1 and L2 Acquisition 8.6 Possible Alternative Explanations of the Data 8.7 Importance for a Theory of UG 8.8 Implications for Future Research.

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Parameter-Setting Model of L2 Acquisition: Experimental Studies in Anaphora (Studies in Theoretical Psycholinguistics)
• Publisher: D.Reidel
• Publication Date: 1987
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9027723745
• ISBN 13: 9789027723741
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

Recent developments in linguistic theory have led to an important reorientation of research in related fields of linguistic inquiry as well as in linguistics itself. The developments I have in mind, viewed from the point of view of government-binding theory, have to do with the character­ ization of Universal Grammar (UG) as a set of subtheories, each with its set of central principles (perhaps just one principle central to each subtheory) and parameters (perhaps just one for each principle) according to which a principle can vary between an unmarked ('-') and a marked ('+') para­ metric value (Chomsky, 1985; 1986). For example, let us assume that there is an X-bar theory in explanation of those features of phrase structure irreducible to other subtheo­ ries of UG. Within X-bar theory variation among languages is then allowed only with respect to the position the head of a phrase occupies in rela t ion to its complemen ts such that the phrases of a language will be either right- or left-headed. Thus languages will vary between being right-headed in this respect (as in Japanese phrase structure) and being left-headed (as in English phrase structure). Everything else about the phrase structure of particular languages will be fixed within X-bar theory itself or else it will fallout from other subtheories of UG: Case theory; 0-theory, etc. (Chomsky, 1985:161-62; Chomsky, 1986:2-4; and references cited there). Hatters are the same in other modules of grammar.