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.
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ISBN-13
978-94-009-3747-5 (9789400937475)
DOI
10.1007/978-94-009-3747-5
Schweitzer Klassifikation
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.- Notes to Chapter Two.- 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.- Notes to Chapter Three.- 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.- Notes to Chapter Four.- 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.- Notes to Chapter Five.- 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.- Notes to Chapter Seven.- 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.- Appendices.- Author Index.
