Learnability and the lexicon : theories and second language acquisition research / Alan Juffs.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Juffs, Alan.

Series:

Language acquisition & language disorders ; v. 12.

Language acquisition & language disorders, 0925-1023 ; v. 12

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Grammar, Comparative and general--Syntax.

Grammar, Comparative and general.

Lexicology.

Second language acquisition.

Semantics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (294 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Amsterdam ; Philadelphia : J. Benjamins, c1996.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book provides a critical review of recent theories of semantics-syntax correspondences and makes new proposals for constraints on semantic structure relevant to syntax. Data from several languages are presented which suggest that semantic structure in root morphemes is subject to parametric variation which has effect across a variety of verb classes, including locatives, unaccusatives, and psych verbs.The implications for first and second language acquisition are discussed. In particular, it is suggested that different parametric settings may lead to a learnability problem if adult learners do not retain access to sensitivity to underlying semantic organization and morphological differences between languages provided by Universal Grammar.An experiment with Chinese-speaking learners of English is presented which shows that learners initially transfer L1 semantic organization to the L2, but are able to retreat from overgeneralisations and achieve native-like grammars in this area.Suggestions for further research in this rapidly developing area of theory and acquisition research are also made.

Contents:

LEARNABILITY AND THE LEXICON THEORIES AND SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION RESEARCH

Editorial page

Title page

Copyright page

Table of contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Linguistic Theory, Language Acquisition, and the Lexicon

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Theoretical framework

1.2.1 The organization of the grammar

1.2.2 Subjacency: a principle of Universal Grammar

1.2.3 Parameters

1.3 The logical problem of language acquisition

1.4 The Lexicon and L1 Acquisition

1.4.1 The lexicon and semantics-syntax correspondences

1.4.2 L1 acquisition of semantics-syntax correspondences.

1.5 Principles and parameters of UG in SLA

1.5.1 Overview

1.5.2 Parameters in SLA

1.6 The Lexicon and SLA

1.7 Summary of the introduction and organization of the book

Notes

Chapter 2. Generative approaches to semantics-syntax correspondences

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Problems with the early theory of thematic relations

2.2.1 The semantics-syntax relationship

2.2.2 Focusing the issues

2.3 Four Approaches to Thematic Relations, Lexical Representation, and the Semantics - Syntax Link

2.3.1 Dowty: Proto Roles

2.3.2 Conflation and Semantic Structure

2.3.2.1 Theoretical Background

2.3.2.2 Locatives in English

2.3.2.3 The Unaccusative/Unergative Distinction

2.3.2.4 Psych Verbs

2.3.2.5 Problems with Pinker's system

2.3.3 Emonds: Syntax based theta role assignment.

2.3.3.1 The Feature [± LOCATION]

2.3.3.2 Problems with Emonds' theory

2.3.4 Hale and Keyser (1993) Argument Structure: Lexical Syntactic Relations

2.3.4.1 The motivation for syntax in the lexicon

2.3.4.2 X-bar theory, lexical representation, and the restrictions onthematic relations

2.4 Summary

Chapter 3. Semantic structure: crosslinguistic patterns and constraints

3.1 Introduction.

3.2 Argument structure and morphology

3.2.1 Morphemes which change argument structure

3.2.2. The status and nature of derivational morphology

3.3 Talmy's typological approach to conflation

3.4 Conflation in Chinese

3.4.1 Locatives in Chinese

3.4.1.1 Content verbs in Chinese

3.4.1.2 Container verbs in Chinese

3.4.1.4 Level ordering in morphology

3.4.1.5 Summary

3.4.2 Psych Verbs and Unaccusatives of change of state in Chinese

3.5 Parameters in semantic structure: evidence and problems

3.5.1 A possible parameter

3.5.2 Other evidence for the parameter

3.5.2.1 Defeasability

3.5.2.2 The status of yong 'use'

3.5.3 Problems and contradictions

3.5.3.1 Contradictions with Pinker's system

3.5.3.2 Contradictions with Talmy's typology

3.5.3.3 Productivity and exceptions in a parameter setting account ofargument structure alternations.

3.6 Evidence from other languages

3.6.1 Languages which pattern with English: French and Bulgarian

3.6.2 Languages which pattern with Chinese: Japanese, Tagalog, Chechen-Ingush, and possibly German.

3.7 Constraining semantic structure: some revised representations

3.7.1 Building blocks and rules of combination.

3.7.2 Representation for Unaccusatives

3.7.3 Representation for the Unergative.

3.7.4 Representations for Locative Verbs

3.7.4.1 Non-alternating content verbs.

3.7.4.2 Non-alternating container verbs.

3.7.4.3 Alternating locative verbs.

3.7.5 Representations for Psych Verbs

3.7.6 Comments on crosslinguistic conflation

3.8 Summary

Notes to Chapter 3

Chapter 4. Acquiring Semantics-Syntax Correspondences

4.1 Introduction

4.2 L1 acquisition of semantics-syntax correspondences

4.2.1 An overview of L1 data

4.2.2 Causatives

4.2.3 Locative verbs in L1 acquisition.

4.2.4 Acquisition Theories

4.2.4.1 Pinker.

4.2.3.2 Syntactic-bootstrapping of verb meaning.

4.2.4.3 Bowerman

4.3 The learnability of a syntax-based semantic structure.

4.3.1 Syntax-based semantic categories and X-bar theory.

4.3.2 Fine grained aspects of verb meaning: the 'narrow range'

4.3.3 Learnability of the parameter [ACT(+effect) [GO [STATE]]]

4.4 Second language acquisition, transfer, and the lexicon

4.4.1 Evidence from production data.

4.4.2 Experimental studies

4.4.2.1 Lexical semantics and syntax

4.4.2.2 Experimental studies with the dative alternation

4.4.2.2.1 Acquisition of the dative alternation in L2 French and English

4.4.2.2.2 Acquisition of the English dative alternation by Japanese learners

4.4.2.2.3 Chinese learners' knowledge of the dative alternation.

4.4.2.2.4 Summary

4.5 Hypotheses for conflation and argument structure in SLA

Notes to Chapter 4.

Chapter 5. Testing knowledge of semantics-syntax correspondences in a second language

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Hypotheses for Chinese-speaking learners of English

5.3 Participants

5.4 Methodology

5.4.1 Verb Meaning Test

5.4.2 Production Task

5.4.3 The Grammaticality Judgment Task

5.5 Results

5.5.1 Results of the test of verb meaning.

5.5.2 Results of the Production Task

5.5.2.1 Raw score Results of the Production Task

5.5.2.2 Quantitative Results of the Production Task

5.5.3 Results of the Grammaticality Judgment Task

5.5.3.1 Confirming the differences between English and Chinese

5.5.3.2 General Results of the Grammaticality Judgment Task

Chapter 6. Analysis and Discussion

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Evidence for the switching of a conflation pattern parameter

6.2.1 Native speaker results

6.2.2 Evidence from the production task for the parameter

6.2.3 Evidence from the judgment task

6.2.4 Other studies.

6.2 Unaccusative and Unergative Verbs

6.3 Conflation and 'narrow range rules'

6.4 Stages in lexical parameter resetting

Chapter 7. Epilogue

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Summary

7.3 Suggestions for further research

7.3.1 Lexical parameters

7.3.2 Crosslinguistic research

7.3.3 Syntax, Conflation, and Morphology in SLA

7.3.4 Classroom Research

References

Appendix I: English Locative Verbs

APPENDIX II: Chinese Locative Verbs and Argument Structures

Appendix III: Test of Verb Meanings

Appendix IV: Production task

Appendix V. Grammaticality Judgment Task

Instructions

Sentences by Category

Index

The series Language Acquisition and Language Disorders.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-283-04716-0

9786613047168

90-272-8564-0

OCLC:

844329855