Parameter setting in language acquisition / Dalila Ayoun.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ayoun, Dalila, 1963-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Language acquisition.

Principles and parameters (Linguistics).

Physical Description:

x, 212 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Continuum, 2003.

Contents:

2.2 A historical perspective 5

2.3 From micro-parameters to macro-parameters 8

2.3.2 Micro-parameters 9

2.3.3 Macro-parameters 10

2.4 Parameters and language change 12

2.5 Parameters and pidgin/creole languages 14

2.6 Computational perspective 16

2.7 Neurolinguistic perspective 18

2.8 Challenges to parameter-setting theory 20

2.8.1 Universal Grammar and cognition 21

2.8.2 The Critical Period Hypothesis 22

2.8.3 Non-parametric accounts 26

3 Parameter-(re)setting theory 29

3.1.1 The Maturation Hypothesis 30

3.1.2 The Continuity Hypothesis 34

3.1.3 Reconciling the Maturation Hypothesis and the Continuity Hypothesis 37

3.1.4 Relevance to parameter setting 39

3.2 Is there a triggering problem? 41

3.3.1 Unanswered questions 43

3.3.2 Degrees of learnability and exposure 44

3.3.3 Hints from creole languages and language change 45

3.3.4 Triggers as cues 46

3.3.5 Triggers as structures 48

3.4 Setting parameters in first language acquisition 50

3.4.1 Positive evidence versus negative evidence 50

3.4.2 The Subset Principle 53

3.4.3 Initial setting 55

3.4.4 How early are parameters set? 59

3.4.5 Parameter ordering 61

3.5 (Re)setting parameters in adult second language acquisition 62

3.6 A non-parametric approach to adult second language acquisition 66

4 Parameters of Universal Grammar 71

4.2 Defining a parameter 71

4.3 Phonological parameters 73

4.4 Lexical parameters 76

4.4.1 Webelhuth (1992) 76

4.4.2 Juffs (1993) 77

4.5 Morphological parameters 78

4.6 Syntactic parameters 78

4.7 Null subject parameter 80

4.7.1 Optional subject pronouns 85

4.7.2 Nominal subject inversion 85

4.7.3 Expletives 85

4.7.4 That-trace effect 86

4.7.5 French as a null subject language 86

4.8 Verb movement parameter 87

4.8.1 Negation placement 88

4.8.2 Adverb placement 89

4.8.3 Floating quantifiers 90

4.8.4 Inverted questions 90

4.8.5 Theoretical issues 91

4.8.6 What triggers verb movement? 92

4.9 Learnability implications 94

5 Experimental studies in first and second language acquisition 99

5.1.1 Language data and syntactic theory 100

5.1.2 Methodological concerns 101

5.2 Null subject parameter 104

5.2.1 First language acquisition studies 104

5.2.2 Second language acquisition studies 104

5.3 Verb movement parameter 107

5.3.1 First language acquisition studies 107

5.3.2 Second language acquisition studies 109

5.3.3 Studies related to verb movement 117

6 Revisiting traditional assumptions 123

6.2 Binarity and parameters 124

6.2.1 Examples of binary parameters 125

6.2.2 Examples of multi-valued parameters 128

6.3 "Mixed language" phenomenon 130

6.3.1 Phonological parameters 130

6.3.2 Verb movement phenomena 131

6.3.3 Binding theory 136

6.3.4 Null subject phenomena 137

6.4 Learnability considerations in first language acquisition 143

6.4.1 Theoretical considerations 143

6.4.2 Empirical evidence 145

6.5 Learnability considerations in second language acquisition 148

6.5.1 Theoretical considerations 148

6.5.2 Empirical evidence 151

Appendix Languages exhibiting null subjects/arguments 163.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [165]-203) and indexes.

ISBN:

0826461883

OCLC:

49775414